US 20190138174A1

( 19) United States

(12 ) Patent Application Publication ( 10) Pub . No.: US 2019 /0138174 A1
Deets, JR , et al. (43) Pub. Date : May 9 , 2019
(54 ) PROVIDING GROUP MESSAGING THREAD (52 ) U . S. CI.
HIGHLIGHTS CPC ........ .. G06F 3 /0485 (2013 .01); G06F 3 /0482
( 2013.01); H04L 51/ 10 ( 2013 . 01) ; H04L 51/ 16
(71) Applicant: WhatsApp Inc., Menlo Park , CA (US ) (2013.01 ); H04L 51/32 (2013 .01 ); H04L 51/ 12
( 2013 .01)
( 72 ) Inventors : Charles Donald Deets , JR ., Palo Alto , (57 ) ABSTRACT
CA (US ); Randall Sarafa , San The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods
Francisco , CA (US) ; Anton Borzov, for identifying and providing highlight messages from a
Palo Alto , CA (US) group messaging thread . For example , systems and methods
described herein detect when a group messaging thread
(21) Appl. No.: 15 /803,950 participant becomes absent from the group messaging
thread , and identifies one or more highlight messages that
were submitted to the group messaging thread while the
(22 ) Filed : Nov . 6 , 2017 participant was absent. Systems and methods described
herein identify highlight messages that are specific to the
absent participant, such that when the participant again
Publication Classification accesses the group messaging thread , the participant can
(51) Int . CI. review the identified highlight messages in order to quickly
G06F 3 /0485 ( 2006 .01) “ catch up ” on the group messaging thread without having to
GOOF 3 /0482 ( 2006 .01 ) read each electronic message submitted to the group mes
H04L 12 / 58 ( 2006 .01) saging thread during the participant' s absence .

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US 2019/0138174 A1
PROVIDING GROUP MESSAGING THREAD
HIGHLIGHTS
BACKGROUND
[0001] Electronic messaging systems provide the oppor
tunity for groups of users to exchange electronic messages .
For example , a group of users can individually submit
electronic messages to a group messaging thread , and the
electronic messaging system organizes each submitted elec
tronic message chronologically, such that the resulting
thread includes electronic messages in the order that they
were received . The group messaging thread participants can
then read the included electronic messages by, for example ,
scrolling through the group messaging thread .
[ 0002] A problem arises, however , for a group messaging
thread participant who becomes absent from the thread for
a period of time. For example , if the participant has been
absent from the thread for a period of time (e. g., the
participant has been away from their mobile phone or
internet access ), an overwhelming number of electronic
messages may have been submitted to the thread by the other
group messaging thread participants . Thus, when the par
ticipant again accesses the group messaging thread , the
participant is faced with an overwhelming number of elec
tronic messages that he or she must read in order to " catch
up ” on the thread . This is generally an inconvenient and
time- consuming process that can result in the participant
becoming disengaged from the group messaging thread .
[0003] Group messaging thread participants typically do
not spend the time required to catch up on large numbers of
missed messages in a group messaging thread . Instead , a
group messaging thread participant who has been absent
from the thread generally continues on at the thread ' s
current place when he or she next accesses the thread ,
without any knowledge of the current context of the con
versation . Thus, conventional electronic messaging systems
are problematic and unable to re - engage participants with a
group messaging thread after a period of absence.
[0004 ] Accordingly, a need exists for an improved mes
saging system that addresses the above disadvantages
related to group messaging threads.
SUMMARY
[0005 ] One or more embodiments described herein pro
vide benefits and /or solve one or more of the foregoing or
other problems in the art with electronic communication
systems. For instance, the present disclosure describes sys
tems, computer -readable media , and methods for updating a
group messaging thread participant on group messaging
thread activity that occurred during a period of absence from
a group messaging thread .
[0006 ] In accordance with one or more disclosed embodi
ments , an electronic messaging system determines a period
of time corresponding to a group messaging participant's
absence from a group messaging thread . Based on the
determined period of time corresponding to the participant' s
absence , the system identifies one or more " highlight”
messages (e .g., messages likely to be of interest to the
participant ) from messages added to the group messaging
thread during the period of absence . For instance , in some
embodiments the system calculates scores for each message
added to the group messaging thread during the period of
absence and identifies the highlight messages based on the
May 9 , 2019
calculated scores . In response to the participant accessing
the group messaging thread after the period of absence , the
system provides the identified highlight messages to the
participant.
[0007 ] Asmentioned , the system identifies highlightmes
sages to provide to a participant after a period of absence . In
some embodiments, the highlightmessages can include one
or more of the following: electronic messages within the
thread that trigger bursts of conversation , electronic mes
sages that include media or hyperlinks, and electronic mes
sages that include event information . Moreover, in one or
more additional or alternative embodiments , the highlight
messages can include electronic messages that mention the
participant or are otherwise directly related to the partici
pant, such as an electronic message containing a question
directed to the participant by someone else while the par
ticipant was absent from the thread .
[0008 ] As mentioned , in accordance with one or more
embodiments , a system provides one or more highlight
messages to a participant in response to the participant
accessing a group messaging thread after a period of
absence . As disclosed herein , the system can provide the
highlight messages to the participant in a number of ways.
For example , a disclosed system provides a graphical user
interface and corresponding options that enable the partici
pant to flip through identified highlight messages in the
group messaging thread , view a listing of the highlight
messages, and /or navigate through the group messaging
thread by interacting with the highlight messages .
[0009 ] In accordance with the above -mentioned features
and the additional features disclosed throughout the descrip
tion and drawings, the disclosed systems and methods
resolve many problems associated with conventional elec
tronic messaging systems. Indeed , the disclosed systemsand
methods enable an absent group messaging participant to
quickly catch up on missed messages and conversations , and
re - engage with a group messaging thread after a period of
absence from the group messaging thread .
[0010 ]. Additional advantages of the present application
will be set forth in the description that follows and the
appended drawings , and in part will be obvious from the
disclosed embodiments , ormay be learned by the practice of
such embodiments. The features and advantages of such
embodiments may be realized and obtained by the instru
ments and combinations particularly pointed out in the
appended claims. These and other features will become
more fully apparent from the following description ,
appended drawings , and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011 ] The detailed description refers to the drawings
briefly described below .
[0012 ] FIG . 1 illustrates an environmental diagram of an
electronic communication system in accordance with one or
more embodiments ;
[0013] FIGS. 2A -2E illustrate a series of graphical user
interfaces illustrating various features in accordance with
one or more embodiments of the electronic communication
system ;
[0014 ] FIGS. 3A -3E illustrate a series of graphical user
interfaces illustrating various features in accordance with
one or more embodiments of the electronic communication
system ;
US 2019/0138174 A1
[0015 ] FIGS. 4A -4F illustrate a series of graphical user
interfaces illustrating various features in accordance with
one ormore embodiments of the electronic communication
system ;
[0016 ] FIG . 5 illustrates a detailed schematic diagram of
the electronic communication system in accordance with
one or more embodiments;
[ 0017 ] FIG . 6 illustrates a flowchart of a series of acts in
a method of providing one or more highlight messages in
accordance with one or more embodiments ;
[ 0018 ] FIG . 7 illustrates a flowchart of a series of acts in
a method of providing one or more highlight messages in a
group messaging thread in accordance with one or more
embodiments ;
[ 0019 ] FIG . 8 illustrates a flowchart of a series of acts in
a method of providing one ormore highlightmessages in a
group messaging thread in accordance with one or more
embodiments ;
[0020 ] FIG . 9 illustrates a flowchart of a series of acts in
a method of providing one or more highlight messages in a
group messaging thread in accordance with one or more
embodiments;
[0021 ] FIG . 10 illustrates a block diagram ofan exemplary
computing device in accordance with one or more embodi
ments ;
[0022] FIG . 11 illustrates an example network environ
ment of a networking system in accordance with one ormore
embodiments ; and
[0023 ] FIG . 12 illustrates a social graph in accordance
with one or more embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] One or more embodiments of the present disclosure
include an improved electronic messaging system , as well as
corresponding computer -readable media and methods. For
instance , in accordance with one or more embodiments , a
disclosed system determines a period of time corresponding
to a group messaging thread participant's absence from a
group messaging thread . Based on the determined period of
absence , the system then identifies electronic messages
added to the group messaging thread during the period of
absence . In some embodiments , for each of the identified
electronic messages, the system calculates a score and then
uses the calculated scores to identify highlight messages
( e. g ., messages likely to be of interest to the participant ).
After identifying the highlight messages , the system then
provides the identified highlightmessages to the user when
the participant accesses the group messaging thread after the
period of absence , as explained in more detail below . In this
manner , the system enables the participant to quickly re
engage with the group messaging thread after the period of
absence .
[0025 ] The embodiments disclosed herein provide a num
ber of advantages over conventional systems. For example ,
the disclosed electronic communication system improves
group electronic messaging and engagement with group
messaging threads by mitigating the disruptions caused by
periods of participant absence . Further, by providing high
light messages to the user in intuitive and non - distracting
ways , the electronic communication system provides a
method by which the participant can quickly catch up on the
contents of group messaging thread without sacrificing
valuable display space within a graphical user interface . For
instance , the electronic communication system enables the
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participant to easily view highlight messages, navigate to
portions of a group messaging thread corresponding to the
highlightmessages, view messages related to the highlight
messages, and consume content related to the highlight
messages. The electronic communication system can further
customize the experience for each participant so as to
increase re -engagement for each participant after a period of
absence .
[0026 ] To illustrate one example embodiment, the elec
tronic communication system begins by monitoring a group
messaging thread participant' s activity within a social net
working system as well as within an electronic messaging
system . For example, the electronic communication system
monitors the participant' s activities relative to the social
networking system including, but not limited to , the partici
pant' s " likes ," comments , shares , co -users, and profile infor
mation . Additionally , the electronic communication system
monitors the participant' s activities relative to the electronic
messaging system . For example , the electronic communica
tion system monitors the participant's overall activity level
with regard to all of the messaging threads in which the
participant is included . The electronic communication sys
tem also monitors the co - users and topics with which the
participant most frequently engages. Finally , the electronic
communication system monitors the participant' s activity
level with regard to a particular group messaging thread . In
one or more embodiments , the electronic communication
system utilizes this monitored activity information when
identifying highlight messages and otherwise customizing
an experience for a participantwhen the participant accesses
a group messaging thread after a period of absence .
[0027 ] As used herein , a “ group messaging thread ” refers
to a communication thread that includes three or more
participants . For example , a communication thread between
two participants would generally not include many elec
tronic messages submitted to the thread by one participant
during the other participant' s absence . Conversely , a group
messaging thread including three ofmore participants may
include entire conversations that occur during one of the
participant's absence from the thread .
[0028 ] Also as used herein , a " highlightmessage” refers to
an electronic message selected from a plurality of electronic
messages within a group messaging thread that the elec
tronic communication system determines is likely to be of
interest to a participant following the participant's period of
absence from the group messaging thread . In one or more
embodiments, electronic messages within a group messag
ing thread ( e .g ., or any communication thread ) can include
text, media (e . g ., digital photographs and/ or videos ), hyper
links, and other interactive elements (e .g ., check -ins , event
information ). In at least one embodiment, the electronic
communication system determines that an electronic mes
sage is a highlightmessage by analyzing the contents of the
electronic message , and determining their potential interest,
relative to the participant, as will be explained in more detail
below .
[0029 ] Moreover, in one or more embodiments, the elec
tronic communication system utilizes the participant's activ
ity level with regard to the particular group messaging
thread to determine whether and when the participant
becomes absent from the group messaging thread . For
example , in some embodiments the electronic communica
tion system determines that a participant is absent from a
group messaging thread for a period of time based on a
US 2019/0138174 A1
determination that the participanthas not opened or accessed
the group messaging thread , that the participant has not read
one or more messages within the group messaging thread ,
that the participant has closed an electronic messaging
application on the participant's computing device (e .g .,
mobile device ), that the participant has switched focus from
an electronic messaging application to another application
on the participant's computing device , that the participant's
computing device has powered off, or that the participanthas
not otherwise engaged with the group messaging thread . For
instance, the participant may close the electronic messaging
system application on the participant's mobile device, may
switch focus to another application on the participant' s
mobile device, or may turn off the mobile device altogether
for a period of time. Moreover, in some embodiments, the
electronic messaging system determines that a participant is
absent from a group messaging thread when the participant' s
activity level in relation to the group messaging thread drops
below a threshold amount.
0030 ] In one or more embodiments , during a participant' s
period of absence from a group messaging thread , the
electronic communication system monitors the group mes
saging thread to identify electronic messages added to the
thread by other participants during the period of absence .
For example, in a group messaging thread between three or
more participants , a thread conversation may continue , even
in the absence of one of the participants . Thus, after deter
mining that the participant is absent from the group mes
saging thread , the electronic communication system identi
fies the electronic messages added to the thread during the
participant' s absence by other thread participants.
[0031 ] In anticipation of or when the participant next
returns to the group messaging thread (e .g ., accesses the
group messaging thread via the electronic communication
system application on his or her mobile phone or other
computing device ), the electronic communication system
identifies one or more highlight messages among the elec
tronic messages added to the thread during the participant' s
absenceby other thread participants. In one or more embodi
ments , the electronic communication system determines that
an electronic message from the group messaging thread is a
highlight message by calculating a score for the electronic
message based on the electronic message and information
specific to the participant. If the calculated score is higher
than a threshold amount, the electronic messaging system
determines that the electronic message is indeed a highlight
message .
[ 0032] In one or more embodiments , the electronic com
munication system calculates a score for an electronic
message based on several characteristics of the electronic
message . For example , the electronic communication sys
tem calculates the score for the electronic message based on
an analysis of the contents of the electronic message , based
on an analysis of surrounding message activity in the group
messaging thread , and based on information specific to the
participant in relation to the electronic message.
[0033] For instance , in one or more embodiments , the
electronic communication system performs an analysis of
the contents of an electronic message submitted to the group
messaging thread during the participant's absence. In at least
one embodiment, the electronic communication system ana
lyzes the contents of the electronic message to identify one
or more digitalmedia items ( e . g ., digital photographs , digital
videos ) in the electronic message . Further, the electronic
May 9 , 2019
communication system analyzes any text included in the
electronic message to identify a topic in which the partici
pant is likely interested , to identify event information , or to
identify a mention of the participant or a mention of another
thread participant with whom the participant has a high
relationship coefficient. In at least one embodiment, the
electronic communication system calculates a higher score
for an electronic message with contents including any of the
above .
[0034 ] As just mentioned above, the electronic communi
cation system also performs an analysis of surrounding
message activity in the group messaging thread . In one or
more embodiments, the electronic communication system
considers it likely that when an electronic message causes an
increase to the rate or quantity of thread activity , the
electronic message is a highlight message . Thus, the elec
tronic communication system analyzes submission time
stamps for electronic messages in the group messaging
thread that lead up to and follow the electronic message
being analyzed . For example , the electronic communication
system may analyze submission timestamps for the five
preceding and five succeeding electronic messages relative
to the analysis electronic message . If the electronic commu
nication system identifies a " lull” in the conversation leading
up to the analysis electronic message (e. g., the preceding
electronic messages have timestamps that are spaced out),
and a " flurry ” of conversation following the analysis elec
tronic message (e . g ., the succeeding electronic messages
have timestamps that are close together ), the electronic
communication system can calculate a higher score for the
analysis electronic message or otherwise conclude that the
electronic message is a highlight message.
[0035 ] Also mentioned above, the electronic communica
tion system calculates a score for an electronic message
based on information specific to the participant in relation to
the electronic message . In one or more embodiments, the
electronic communication system identifies highlight mes
sages that are specific to a particular participant. For
example , a highlight message that is specific to one partici
pant may be an electronic message that includes a mention
of that participant. Thus, in one or more embodiments, the
electronic communication system would not identify this
electronic message as a highlight message for a different
participant of the group messaging thread .
[0036 ] Accordingly, the electronic communication system
performs an analysis of information specific to a particular
participant in relation to an analysis electronic message to
calculate a score for the analysis electronic message. In one
ormore embodiments , the electronic communication system
analyzes text included in the electronic message to deter
mine whether the electronic message mentions the partici
pant (e . g ., the electronic message 's sender tagged the par
ticipant in the electronic message ), whether the electronic
message includes a topic in which the participant is inter
ested ( e .g ., based on the participant' s social networking
system activity history , based on the participant 's electronic
messaging system activity history ), or whether the electronic
message discusses an event that the participant would likely
want to attend ( e . g ., based on the participant ' s social net
working system activity history, based on the participant's
electronic messaging system activity hi story ).
[0037 ] Additionally , the electronic communication system
can calculate a score for an electronic message based on a
relationship coefficient between the electronic message's
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sender and the participant. For example , in one or more
embodiments, the social networking system calculates a
relationship coefficient between two users that represents the
strength of the relationship between the two users as evi
denced by social networking system activity history shared
by both users . To illustrate , two social networking system
users may have a high relationship coefficient evidenced by
their similar age, their shared educational experience (e . g .,
they attended the same school at the same time), their shared
social activities (e. g., tagging each other in pictures, check
ing in at the same locations ), and the length of their
" friendship ” via the social networking system . Two different
social networking system user may have a low relationship
coefficient evidenced by the fact that the only social net
working system activity history they share is that they both
work for the same company .
[ 0038 ] In one or more embodiments , the electronic com
munication system calculates a higher score for an electronic
message submitted to the group messaging thread by a
sender with whom the participant has a high relationship
coefficient . For example , in at least one embodiment , the
electronic communication system assumes that the partici
pant would be more interested in reading electronic mes
sages from a close friend . Thus, the electronic communica
tion system is more likely to identify an electronic message
from a sender with a high relationship coefficient as a
highlight message .
[ 0039 ] Once the electronic communication system calcu
lates a score for each electronic message submitted to the
group messaging thread during the participant's absence, the
electronic communication system identifies one or more
highlight messages among the scored electronic messages .
In one or more embodiments , the electronic communication
system determines that electronic messages with a score
above a threshold amount are highlight messages . Alterna
tively, the electronic communication system may determine
that a certain number or percentage of top - scoring electronic
messages are highlightmessages.
[ 0040 ] In yet further embodiments , the electronic commu
nication system identifies highlightmessages based on the
satisfaction of one or more criteria , without necessarily
calculating scores for the messages. For example , in some
embodiments, the electronic communication system deter
mines that an electronic message is a highlight message
because the message includes a reference to the participant,
includes a digital image , sparks a flurry of conversation , is
from a close friend of the participant, or includes any other
characteristic determined to be of particular interest to the
participant, such as any of the characteristics mentioned
above. Accordingly , the electronic communication system
need not base the identification of highlight messages on
calculated scores of the highlight messages , as described
above . Rather, the electronic communication system can
additionally or alternatively identify highlight messages
based on any criteria indicating a likelihood of interest by
the user in the message .
[0041 ] After identifying one or more highlight messages
corresponding to the participant' s absence from the group
messaging thread , the electronic communication system
provides the highlight messages to the participant in one of
various ways . For example , the electronic communication
system can enable the participant to simply “ flip " from one
highlight message to the next within the group messaging
thread . Alternatively, the electronic communication system
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can compile excerpts of the identified highlight messages,
and provide the highlight excerpts in connection with the
group messaging thread . Thus, the participant can quickly
and easily review the highlight excerpts in order to get
caught up with the thread and /or jump to certain positions
within the thread to answer a question , to view a photograph ,
or to read an interesting exchange .
[0042 ] FIG . 1 illustrates an example block diagram of an
environment for implementing an electronic communication
system 100 . As illustrated in FIG . 1 , the electronic commu
nication system 100 includes server( s ) 106 , on which an
electronic messaging system 108 operates. Further shown in
FIG . 1 , the electronic communication system 100 includes
the client-computing devices 102a , 102b , and 102c . Each of
the client- computing devices 102a , 102b , and 102c include
an electronic messaging system application 104a , 104b , and
104c , respectively .
[0043 ] The server (s ) 106 and the client- computing devices
102a , 102b , and 102c communicate via the network 110 ,
which may include one or more networks and may use one
or more communication platforms or technologies suitable
for transmitting data and /or communication signals. In one
or more embodiments , the network 110 includes the Internet
or World Wide Web . The network 110 , however, can include
various other types of networks that use various communi
cation technologies and protocols, such as a corporate
intranet, a virtual private network (“ VPN ” ), a local area
network (“ LAN ” ), a wireless local network (“ WLAN ” ) , a
cellular network , a wide area network (“ WAN ” ) , a metro
politan area network (“ MAN ” ), or a combination of two or
more such networks .
10044 ]. Although FIG . 1 illustrates a particular arrange
ment of the server ( s ) 106 , the client-computing devices
102a , 102b , and 102c , and the network 110 various addi
tional arrangements are possible . For example , the client
computing devices 102a , 102b , and 102c may directly
communicate with the server(s) 106 , bypassing the network
110 . Additional details relating to the network 110 are
explained below with reference to FIG . 11 .
10045 ] As shown in FIG . 1, the client -computing devices
102a , 102b , 102c include the electronic messaging system
application 104a , 104b , 104c, respectively . In at least one
embodiment, the electronic messaging system application
104a , 104b , 104c organizes electronic messages exchanged
between the users of the electronic messaging system 108
into communication threads, where each thread includes a
chronological ordering of electronic messages, as well as
additional indicators as to who authored an electronic mes
sage and whether the electronic message has been delivered
and/or read .
10046 ] As illustrated , in one or more embodiments , the
server( s ) 106 can include all , or a portion of the electronic
messaging system 108 . In particular, the electronic commu
nication system 100 can comprise an application running on
the server( s ) 106 or a portion of a software application that
can be downloaded from the server ( s ) 106 . For example, the
electronic messaging system 108 can include a web hosting
application that allows one or more of the client- computing
devices 102a , 102b , and 102c to interact with contenthosted
at the server (s ) 106 . To illustrate , in one or more embodi
ments of the electronic communication system 100 , the
client- computing device 102a communicates with the server
(s ) 106 to send and receive electronic messages for a user of
the client-computing device 102a . In particular, the client
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computing device 102a can run an application to allow a
user to compose , access , view , and /or interact with elec
tronic messages and messaging threads facilitated by the
server(s) 106 and electronic messaging system 108 .
[0047] Although FIG . 1 illustrates a particular arrange
ment of the client -computing devices 102a , 102b , and 102c ,
the network 110 , and the server (s ) 106 , various additional
arrangements are possible . For example , while FIG . 1 illus
trates the client-computing devices 102a , 102b , and 102c
communication with the server (s ) 106 via the network 110 ,
in one or more embodiments , additional client- computing
devices can also communicate with the server (s ) 106 via the
network 110 , or directly .
[ 0048 ] Similarly, although FIG . 1 illustrates various com
ponents , the electronic communication system 100 may
have additional or alternative components . For example , the
electronic communication system 100 can be implemented
on a single computing device . In particular, the electronic
communication system 100 may be implemented in whole
by one of the client-computing devices 102a , 102b , or 102c,
or the electronic communication system 100 may be imple
mented in whole by the server (s ) 106 . Alternatively , the
electronic communication system 100 may be implemented
across multiple devices or components (e. g., utilizing mul
tiple client- computing devices and the server(s ) 106 ).
[0049] As discussed above, the systems and methods laid
out with reference to FIG . 1 receive electronic messages ,
organize the electronic messages into a messaging thread ,
and identify one or more highlight messages submitted to
the communication thread during a user 's absence . By way
of example , in one or more embodiments, the users of the
client-computing devices 102a , 102b , and 102c utilize the
electronic messaging system applications 104a , 104b , and
104c, respectively to submit electronic messages to a group
messaging thread . The electronic messaging system 108
organizes the submitted electronic messages chronologically
in the group messaging thread , and the users of the client
computing devices 102a , 102b , and 102c utilize the elec
tronic messaging system applications 104a, 104b , and 104c ,
respectively to view the organized group messaging thread .
[0050 ] In one or more embodiments , when the user of the
client- computing device 102a becomes inactive for a thresh
old period of time, the electronic communication system 100
determines that the user of the client- computing device 102a
is absent from the group messaging thread . During this
user ' s period of absence , the other users of the client
computing device 102b and the client- computing device
102c may continue to add electronic messages to the group
messaging thread . Thus, when the user of the client-com
puting device 102a again accesses the group messaging
thread via the electronic messaging system application 104a ,
the electronic communication system 100 identifies one or
more highlight messages among the electronic messages
added by the users of the client- computing devices 102b ,
102c during the period of absence associated with the user
of the client-computing device 102a . The electronic com
munication system 100 can present the identified highlight
messages to the user of the client -computing device 102a via
the electronic messaging system application 104a in a
variety of ways , as will be discussed below with reference
to FIGS. 2A -4F.
[0051] For example , the electronic communication system
100 can provide, alone and /or in combination with other
components , one ormore graphical user interfaces (“GUIS”
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or “ interfaces” ) in performing its functions. For instance, the
electronic communication system 100 can utilize the elec
tronic messaging system application 104a , 104b , 104c to
provide GUIs with interface elements that allow the group
messaging thread participants to interact with the electronic
messaging system 108. To illustrate , FIGS. 2A -4F and the
description that follows illustrate various example embodi
ments of GUIs and features in accordance with one or more
embodiments of the electronic communication system 100 .
[0052] For example, FIG . 2A illustrates a client- comput
ing device 202 ( e . g ., as an example of the client - computing
device 102a shown in FIG . 1 ) that may implement one or
more of the components or features of the electronic com
munication system 100 . As shown , the client- computing
device 202 is a handheld device , such as a mobile phone
device ( e.g ., a smartphone). As used herein , the term “hand
held device ” refers to a device sized and configured to be
held / operated in a single hand of a user. In additional or
alternative examples, however, the client-computing device
202 may be any other suitable computing device , such as,
but not limited to , a tablet device , a larger wireless device ,
a laptop or desktop computer, a personal digital assistant
device, a wearable computing device ( e.g ., a head-mounted
computing device ), and / or any other suitable computing
device .
[0053] As illustrated in FIG . 2A , the client-computing
device 202 includes a touch screen display 204 that can
display GUIs and receive and/or detect user input. As used
herein , a “ touch screen display ” refers to the display of a
touch screen device ( e . g ., the client -computing device 202 ).
In one or more embodiments , a touch screen device may be
any computing device with at least one surface upon which
a user may perform touch gestures (e. g., a laptop , a tablet
computer, a personal digital assistant, a media player, a
mobile phone ). Additionally or alternatively , the client
computing device 202 may include any other suitable input
device, such as a touch pad or those described below with
reference to FIG . 10 .
[0054 ] In FIG . 2A , the touch screen display 204 displays
a thread listing GUI 206 provided by an electronic messag
ing system application ( e . g ., electronic messaging system
application 104a ). As shown , the thread listing GUI 206
includes a messaging thread list 208 indicating one or more
messaging threads in which the user of the client-computing
device 202 is a participant. For example, as shown in FIG .
2A , themessaging thread control 210 indicates that the user
of the client -computing device 202 is a participant in the
messaging thread entitled “ Totally Fun Club ." In one or
more embodiments , the messaging thread control 210 also
includes additional information such as the date the user of
the client-computing device 202 last accesses themessaging
thread associated with the messaging thread control 210 , a
profile picture associated with the messaging thread , part or
all of a last electronic message accessed by the user of the
client- computing device 202 within the associated messag
ing thread , and an indication of whether notifications asso
ciated with the messaging thread have been muted .
[0055 ] As also shown in FIG . 2A , the messaging thread
control 210 can include a missed messages indicator 212 . In
one or more embodiments , in response to determining that
the user of the client- computing device 202 has not accessed
or has otherwise been absent from a particular messaging
thread , the electronic communication system 100 identifies
electronic messages submitted to the messaging thread in the
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user's absence . Thus, the messaging thread control 210
indicates that since the user of the client- computing device
202 was last active in the “ Totally Fun Club ” messaging
thread , one hundred and twenty -four electronic messages
have been added to that messaging thread by other partici
pants.
[0056 ] In response to a detected selection of the messaging
thread control 210 , the messaging application provides the
messaging thread GUI 214 on the touch screen display 204
ofthe client- computing device 202, as shown in FIG . 2B . In
one or more embodiments , the electronic communication
system 100 ( via themessaging application , includes the one
or more electronic messages included in the messaging
thread in the messaging thread GUI 214 . For example, as
shown in FIG . 2B , the electronic communication system 100
organizes the one ormore electronic messages into the group
messaging thread 216 . As discussed above , the electronic
communication system 100 organizes the one or more
electronic messages in the group messaging thread 216
chronologically in the order each electronic message is
received by the electronic communication system 100 .
100571 In one or more embodiments , the electronic mes
sages 218a , 218 , 218c , and 218d are the last electronic
messages in the group messaging thread 216 read by the user
of the client- computing device 202 the last time the user
accessed the group messaging thread 216 . As discussed
above , the electronic communication system 100 monitors a
group messaging thread participant's activity level relative
to a group messaging thread 216 (e.g ., by monitoring each
time the participant opens the group messaging thread 216 ).
When the participant is absent from the group messaging
thread 216 ( e . g ., doesn ' t open , access, or otherwise interact
with the group messaging thread 216 ), the electronic com
munication system 100 monitors the group messaging
thread to , for example , identify the electronic messages
added to the group messaging thread 216 during the par
ticipant's absence .
[ 0058 ] When the user of the client-computing device 202
( e . g ., the absent participant) next accesses the group mes
saging thread 216 , the electronic communication system 100
provides ( via the messaging application on the client-com
puting device 202 ) a last read position bar 220 , as shown in
FIG . 2B . In one or more embodiments, the messaging
application displays the last read position bar 220 directly
adjacent to the last electronic message ( e . g ., the electronic
message 218d ) read by the user of the client-computing
device 202 . As also shown in FIG . 2B , in at least one
embodiment, the messaging application displays (e.g., in the
last read position bar 220 ) the number of electronic mes
sages that have been added to the group messaging thread
216 during the user 's period of absence . In one or more
embodiments , once the user of the client- computing device
202 scrolls down through the group messaging thread 216 to
view the unread messages, the messaging application
removes the last read position bar 220 . Alternatively , the
messaging application can reposition the last read position
bar 220 as the user scrolls down through the group messag
ing thread 216 , and update the displayed number of unread
messages in the last read position bar 220 , until the user
scrolls all the way to the bottom (e . g ., the most recently
submitted electronic message) of the group messaging
thread 216 , after which the last read position bar 220 is
removed .
May 9 , 2019
[0059 ] As discussed above , after a period of absence, the
electronic communication system 100 identifies highlight
messages from among the electronic messages added during
the user ' s absence from the group messaging thread 216 . In
one or more embodiments, the electronic communication
system 100 provides the identified highlight messages in a
variety of ways. For example, in the embodiment illustrated
in FIG . 2B , the messaging application provides a highlight
message control 222 including selectable options for access
ing the identified highlightmessages. For instance , as shown
in FIG . 2B , the highlight message control 222 includes
buttons 224a , 224 , 224c, and 224d . In response to a
detected selection of one of the buttons 224a -224d , the
messaging application navigates within the group messaging
thread 216 to different display positions corresponding to the
highlight messages.
[0060] In some embodiments , each ofbuttons 224a , 2246,
224c corresponds to a different category of highlightmes
sage and is selectable to navigate to highlight messages
within the corresponding category . As further shown, each
of the buttons 224a- 224c includes a number indicating the
number of highlight messages identified for each category of
highlight message . By interacting with each of the buttons
224a - 224c , the user can navigate to and view the corre
sponding highlight messages pertaining to that button .
10061 ] For example , in response to the detected selection
of the button 224a in the highlightmessage control 222, the
messaging application navigates within the group messaging
thread 216 to a position corresponding to a first identified
highlightmessage corresponding to the category of highlight
messages represented by button 224a. In one or more
embodiments , in response to each additional selection of the
button 224a , the messaging application navigates to the
display position for the subsequent highlight message cor
responding to the button 224a ( e .g ., until the user has viewed
all of the highlight messages corresponding to button 224a ).
For instance , in response to the repeated selection of the
button 224a , themessaging application can navigate chrono
logically through the identified highlight messages . Alter
natively , in response to the repeated selection of the button
224a , the messaging application can navigate through the
identified highlightmessages based on each highlightmes
sage's score or rank , as will be described further below . This
provides the user of the client-computing device 202 with a
quick and easy way to review the six identified highlight
messages in order to get caught up on the group messaging
thread 216 , rather than having to read through all of the one
hundred twenty - four electronic messages that the user
missed during the user 's period of absence .
[0062 ] In some embodiments, as discussed above , the
electronic communication system 100 identifies highlight
messages by calculating a score for each electronic message
submitted to the group messaging thread 216 during the
period of absence associated with the user of the client
computing device 202. For example , the electronic commu
nication system 100 calculates a score for each of the one
hundred and twenty - four electronic messages based on
various characteristics . In one or more embodiments , for
each electronic message added to the group messaging
thread 216 during the user 's absence, the electronic com
munication system 100 calculates the score for the electronic
message based on an analysis of the contents of the elec
tronic message , based on an analysis of electronic message
US 2019/0138174 A1
activity surrounding the electronic message , and / or based on
information specific to the user of the client-computing
device 202 .
0063] To illustrate , the electronic communication system
100 analyzes the contents of an electronic message to
identify one or more of digital media items, text, hyperlinks ,
interactive elements ( e . g ., mentions, tags , check - ins ), or
other metadata associated with the electronic message . In
one or more embodiments, the electronic communication
system 100 calculates a higher score for an electronic
message that contains certain elements . For example , elec
tronic communication system 100 can calculate a higher
score for an electronic message that includes a digital image
because users tend to be more interested in messages that
include images . In another example , the electronic commu
nication system 100 can calculate a higher score for an
electronic message with text that includes keywords indi
cating event plans (e .g ., a date and time, a location , words
such as " plan " ). In yet another example , the electronic
communication system 100 can calculate a higher score for
an electronic message with text that includes or mentions the
name of the user of the client-computing device 202 ( e. g .,
indicating that the electronic message is directed to the user
of the client-computing device 202 ). Alternatively , the elec
tronic messaging system 100 can identify each of the
foregoing types ofmessages as highlightmessages indepen
dent of any score calculations .
[0064 ] Furthermore, in some embodiments the electronic
communication system 100 analyzes electronic message
activity surrounding an electronic message and calculates a
score accordingly . For instance, if an electronic message
causes an increase in a rate ofmessaging , an increase in a
quantity of messages , or an increase to the length of mes
sages added to the group messaging thread after the elec
tronic message , the electronic communication system 100
may calculate a higher score for the electronic message . For
example , the electronic communication system 100 deter
mines whether an electronic message causes an increase in
a rate ofmessaging by analyzing timestamps associated with
the electronic message and other surrounding ( e .g ., preced
ing and succeeding ) electronic messages . If the messaging
activity ( e. g ., messages submitted per minute ) prior to the
electronic message is low , but increases after the electronic
message , the electronic communication system 100 can
determine that the electronic message caused an increase in
the rate of messaging. Further, if the messages submitted
prior to the electronic message are short,but become lengthy
following the electronic message , the electronic communi
cation system 100 can determine that the electronic message
caused an increase to the length of messages in the group
messaging thread 216 . Based on the determined increase in
rate , quantity, length , and /or quality of messaging after the
analyzed electronic message, the electronic communication
system 100 may determine that the electronic message is a
highlight message .
[ 0065 ]. In additional or alternative embodiments , the elec
tronic communication system 100 analyzes and utilizes
information specific to the user of the client -computing
device 202 when calculating a score for an electronic
message . To illustrate , the electronic communication system
100 can access social networking system information related
to the user of the client -computing device 202 . Based on the
social networking system information , the electronic com -
munication system 100 can identify a relationship coefficient
May 9 , 2019
between the user of the client-computing device 202 and the
sender of the electronic message . In at least one embodi
ment, the electronic communication system 100 calculates a
higher score for the electronic message if the relationship
coefficient between the user of the client-computing device
202 and the sender of the electronic message is also high .
[0066 ] After the electronic communication system 100
calculates a score for each electronic message submitted
during the period of absence corresponding to the user of the
client-computing device 202 , the electronic communication
system 100 identifies one or more highlight messages. For
example , in one embodiment, the electronic communication
system 100 identifies a top percentage of scored electronic
messages as highlight messages ( e . g ., the top ten percent of
scored messages). Alternatively , the electronic communica
tion system 100 may identify a top number of scored
electronic messages as highlight messages ( e . g ., the ten
scored messages with the highest scores ). In yet further
embodiments, the electronic communication system 100
identifies electronic messages having a particular character
istic (e . g ., includes a digital image , mentions the user ,
includes event information , or causes an increase in mes
saging activity ) as highlight messages .
[0067 ] In a further embodiment, the electronic communi
cation system 100 can “ learn ” the user 's preferences with
regard to highlight messages . For example , the electronic
communication system 100 can determine, in response to
the user of the client- computing device 202 frequently
interacting with or viewing highlight messages, that the
threshold score for identifying a highlight message can be
lowered (e . g ., thus enabling more electronic messages to
qualify as highlight messages ). Conversely , the electronic
communication system 100 can determine, in response to
the user of the client- computing device 202 rarely interact
ing with or viewing highlight messages , that the threshold
score for identifying a highlight message should be raised
( e . g ., thus making it harder for an electronic message to
qualify as a highlightmessage ). In yet further embodiments ,
if the user interacts with highlight messages of a particular
type or having a particular characteristic more than others ,
the electronic communication system 100 can alter its heu
ristics or scoring to provide more highlight messages having
the particular type or characteristic to the user in the future .
[0068 ] After identifying one or more highlight messages
among the electronic messages submitting during the period
of absence associated with the user of the client-computing
device 202 , the electronic communication system 100 can
further rank the identified highlightmessages. For example ,
in one or more embodiments , the electronic communication
system 100 ranks the identified highlightmessages based on
an electronic messaging system activity history associated
with the user of the client- computing device 202 . For
example , the user of the client - computing device 202 may
have an activity history associated with the electronic mes
saging system 108 of only viewing highlight messages that
include a digital media item ( e . g ., an image ). Accordingly ,
the electronic communication system 100 may rank high
light messages containing digital media items higher than
highlightmessages that only include text.
[0069] Additionally or alternatively, the electronic com
munication system 100 may rank the identified highlight
messages based on a social networking system activity
history . For example , in at least one embodiment, the
electronic communication system 100 can access social
US 2019/0138174 A1
networking system information to analyze activity history
associated with the user of the client- computing device 202 .
From this activity history , the electronic communication
system 100 can determine information associated with the
user of the client-computing device 202 including, but not
limited to , the user ' s interests , hobbies , and demographic
information . The electronic communication system 100 can
further rank highlight messages based on this information .
10070 ] In at least one embodiment, the electronic commu
nication system 100 further categorizes each identified high
light message based on the contents of the identified high
light message. For example , the electronic communication
system 100 can associate each identified highlightmessage
with at least one of several categories including, but not
limited to : digital media , hyperlink , recording, event, men
tion, or interests . For instance , the electronic communication
system 100 may associate a highlight message containing a
digital photograph or video with the digital media category,
a highlightmessage containing a hyperlink with the hyper
link category, a recording with the recording category , event
information with the event category, a mention of the user of
the client-computing device 202 with the mention category ,
or one or more keywords flagged as interests associated with
the user of the client- computing device 202 with the inter
ests category .
[ 0071] Thus, returning again to FIG . 2B , in at least one
embodiment, the electronic communication system 100 pro
vides the buttons 224b and 224c in order to enable the user
to quickly navigate among various categories of highlight
messages . For example , as described above , in response to
the repeated selection of the button 224a in the highlight
message control 222 , the electronic communication system
100 navigates to each identified highlight message . Put
another way , the electronic communication system 100
identifies a group message thread identifier associated with
each identified highlight message and navigates within the
group message thread to the identifier. In one or more
embodiments , in response to the repeated selection of the
button 224b , the electronic communication system 100
navigates through each identified highlight message in the
digitalmedia category. Similarly, in response to the repeated
selection of the button 224c , the electronic communication
system 100 navigates through each identified highlightmes
sage in the hyperlink category .
[0072 ] In at least one embodiment, the electronic commu
nication system 100 provides category buttons ( e . g ., the
buttons 224b and 224c ) in the highlight message control 222
based on preferences and/ or use history of the user of the
client-computing device 202. For example , the electronic
communication system 100 can monitor the interactions of
the user of the client- computing device 202 with the high
light message control 222 . Over time, the electronic com
munication system 100 may not provide buttons for catego
ries with which the user infrequently interacts. For example ,
if the user of the client-computing device 202 only interacts
with the button 224a and the button 224b after twenty times
accessing the highlight message control 222 , the electronic
communication system 100 may not provide the button 2240
the next time the user accesses the group messaging thread
216 . In another embodiment, the electronic communication
system 100 may monitor the categories of highlightmessage
with which the user spends the most time (e . g ., by tracking
scroll speed , eye movement ). In that embodiment, the elec
tronic communication system 100 may provide buttons for
May 9 , 2019
the categories identified asbeing most interesting to the user
of the client-computing device 202 .
[ 0073] As mentioned above , in response to a detected
selection of one of the buttons 224a - 224d in the highlight
message control 222, the messaging application navigates
the group messaging thread 216 to a display position cor
responding with a highlight message . For example , in
response to detecting the selection of the button 224b , the
messaging application navigates within the group messaging
thread 216 to a display position corresponding to the high
light message 226a within the group messaging thread 216 ,
as shown in FIG . 2C . As discussed above, the highlight
message 226a may be the highest scoring highlight message
in the digital media category , or may be chronologically the
first highlight message in the digital media category within
the group messaging thread 216 .
[0074 ] In one ormore embodiments, the messaging appli
cation updates the buttons 224a- 224d in the highlight mes
sage control 222 in response to the detected selection of one
or more of the buttons 224a - 224d . For example , as shown in
FIG . 2C , in response to navigating to the display position
corresponding to the highlightmessage 226a , the messaging
application updates the buttons 224a and 224b to reflect that
there are now five total highlightmessages and three digital
media highlight messages remaining that the user of the
client- computing device 202 has not seen or otherwise
accessed . Additionally or alternatively, the messaging appli
cation can also update the buttons 224a- 224d in response to
detecting the user of the client-computing device 202 simply
scrolling down through the group messaging thread 216 . For
example , as the user scrolls past each highlight message in
the group messaging thread 216 , the messaging application
can update the buttons 224a -224d accordingly .
[0075 ] FIG . 2D further illustrates this navigation process .
For example , in response to the detected selection of the
button 224c (e .g ., the hyperlink category of highlight mes
sages ), the messaging application navigates to a display
position associated with the highlight message 226b . As
described above, the messaging application updates the
buttons 224a- 224d to reflect that one less highlightmessage
exists that the user of the client- computing device 202 has
not seen .
[0076 ] At any time, the messaging application can navi
gate to the bottom ( e.g ., the most recent portion ) of the group
messaging thread 216 . For example , in response to a
detected selection of the button 224d in the highlight mes
sage control 222 , the messaging application navigates to a
display position corresponding to the most recent electronic
message added to the group messaging thread 216 , as shown
in FIG . 2E . At that point, the messaging application may
remove the highlightmessage control 222 from the GUI as
shown in FIG . 2E .
[0077] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A -2E illustrate
how the electronic communication system 100 can identify
and provide highlight messages to the user of the client
computing device 202 via the highlight message control
222 . In additional or alternative embodiments , the electronic
communication system 100 can provide identified highlight
messages in other ways. For example , as will be described
with reference to FIGS. 3A - 3E , the electronic communica
tion system 100 can provide identified highlight messages
via a horizontally scrollable display.
[0078 ]. For instance , FIG . 3A illustrates the messaging
thread list 208 in the thread listing GUI 206 provided by the
US 2019/0138174 A1
messaging application on the touch screen display 204 of the
client- computing device 202 . As described with reference to
FIG . 2A , in FIG . 3A and in response to a detected selection
of the messaging thread control 210 including the missed
messages indicator 212 , the messaging application provides
the messaging thread GUI 214 on the touch screen display
204 of the client- computing device 202 . Similar to FIG . 2B ,
themessaging thread GUI 214 in FIG . 3B displays the group
messaging thread 216 including electronic messages ( e . g .,
the electronic messages 218a - 218d ) exchanged between the
participants in the group messaging thread 216 .
[0079 ] Further illustrated in FIG . 3B , in one or more
embodiments , the electronic communication system 100
provides the horizontal scroll display 228 directly adjacent
to the last electronic message read by the user of the
client- computing device 202 (e . g ., the electronic message
218d ). As described above with reference to FIG . 2B , the
electronic communication system 100 determines when the
user of the client- computing device 202 is absent from the
group messaging thread 216 and identifies one or more
highlight messages from electronic messages submitted to
the group messaging thread 216 by other group messaging
thread participants during the period of absence .
[0080 ] As shown in FIG . 3B , the messaging application
displays , within the group messaging thread 216 , a horizon
tal scroll display 228 including the highlight excerpts 230a
230d . For example , in order to save space and reduce visual
clutter within the messaging thread GUI 214 , themessaging
application does not include the full contents of each iden
tified highlight message in the horizontal scroll display 228 .
Instead , after identifying one or more highlight messages
among the electronic messages submitted to the group
messaging thread 216 during the user 's period of absence ,
the messaging application generates a highlight excerpt
associated with each identified highlight message ( e .g ., a
thumbnail of a digital image from a highlight message, a
portion of the text from a highlight message ).
[ 0081] In one or more embodiments , the electronic com
munication system 100 generates a highlight excerpt asso
ciated with a highlightmessage by analyzing the contents of
the highlight message and extracting the most relevant
portions of the highlightmessage to include in the associated
highlight excerpt. For example , in at least one embodiment,
the electronic communication system 100 utilizes a category
associated with the highlight message to identify relevant
portions of the highlightmessage. To illustrate , if the high
light message includes a digital image , the electronic com
munication system 100 will identify the digital image and
generate a thumbnail for the digital image . In another
example , if the highlightmessage is categorized as an event
highlight message, the electronic communication system
100 will generate an excerpt to include the event information
(e .g ., a date , time, location ). Thus , as shown in FIG . 3B , the
electronic communication system 100 generates the high
light excerpt 230a based on a digital image included in the
highlight message , the highlight excerpt 230b based on a
hyperlink included in the highlight message , the highlight
excerpt 230c based on an audio recording from the highlight
message, the highlight excerpt 230d based on event infor
mation from the highlight message , and the highlight
excerpt 230e (e.g ., shown in FIG . 3C ) based on a mention of
the user in the highlightmessage .
10082 ] In one or more embodiments , the electronic com -
munication system 100 can include any number ofhighlight
May 9 , 2019
excerpts in the horizontal scroll display 228 . In response to
detecting a swipe touch gesture (e .g ., or another similar
input ), the messaging application can scroll through the
horizontal scroll display 228 in order to display additional
highlight excerpts. For example , as shown in FIG . 3C , in
response to detecting a swipe - left touch gesture in associa
tion with the horizontal scroll display 228 , the messaging
application displays an additional highlight excerpt ( e . g ., the
highlight excerpt 230e ) while removing the highlight
excerpts 230a and 230b from display within the horizontal
scroll display 228 .
[0083 ] In some embodiments, the highlight excerpts are
interactive and/or selectable . For example , in response to a
detected selection of the highlight excerpt 230c for a high
light message including an audio recording, the electronic
messaging application provides an audio playback control
overlaid on the messaging thread GUI 214 to allow the user
to listen to the audio recording from the highlight message .
[0084] Further, as shown in FIG . 3D , the highlight excerpt
230e is associated with a mention highlightmessage , where
another participant in the group messaging thread 216 has
directed a question at or otherwise mentioned the user of the
client-computing device 202 . As shown, the highlight
excerpt 230e includes a selectable “ Reply ” hyperlink . In
response to a detected selection of the “ Reply ” hyperlink,
the messaging application can auto -populate the text box
236 with a mention of the sender of the highlight message
associated with the highlight excerpt 230e (e.g ., “ Alina
Healy ” ). The user of the client-computing device 202 can
use the auto -populated message to compose an electronic
message in response to sender of the highlight message .
10085 ] In response to detecting a selection of any of the
highlight excerpts 230a - 230e , the messaging application can
navigate within the group messaging thread 216 to a display
position associated with the highlight message that corre
sponds with the selected highlight excerpt . For example , in
response to a detected selection of the highlight excerpt
230d in FIG . 3D , themessaging application navigates within
the group messaging thread 216 to a display position asso
ciated with the highlight message 226c , as shown in FIG .
3E . As shown , the messaging application vertically centers
the highlight message 226c in the messaging thread GUI
214 , such that the highlightmessage 226c may be easily
read . Further, in one or more embodiments, the messaging
application repositions the horizontal scroll display 228
immediately adjacent to the highlight message 226c , and
removes the highlight excerpt 230d from the horizontal
scroll display 228 (e.g., indicating that the corresponding
highlight message is no longer unread ).
[0086 ] Also illustrated in FIG . 3E , in response to navigat
ing the group messaging thread 216 to the highlightmessage
226c , the messaging application can also update the number
of unread messages displayed in the horizontal scroll display
228 . For example, in one ormore embodiments ,because the
messaging application navigates directly to the highlight
message 226c , the system assumes that the user of the
client- computing device 202 does not read any intervening
electronic messages in the group messaging thread 216
between the user ' s previous display position and the current
display position . Thus, the messaging application updates
the number of unread messages the horizontal scroll display
228 to account for the electronic messages currently dis
played in the messaging thread GUI 214 . In at least one
embodiment, the electronic communication system 100 con
US 2019/0138174 A1
tinues to track the number of unread messages if the user
simply scrolls beyond the currently displayed electronic
messages rather than selecting another highlight excerpt. In
alternative embodiment, the system assumes that the user
has read all messages preceding the highlight message 226
and updates the number of unread messages accordingly.
[ 0087 ] The embodiment of the electronic communication
system 100 shown in FIGS. 3A - 3E illustrates how the
electronic communication system 100 provides one or more
identified highlight messages to the user of the client
computing device 202 via the horizontal scroll display 228 .
In additional or alternative embodiments, the electronic
communication system 100 can provide identified highlight
messages in other ways . For example , as will be described
with reference to FIGS. 4A -4F , the electronic communica
tion system 100 can provide identified highlight messages
via a graphical user interface in another way.
[0088 ] FIG . 4A illustrates the messaging thread list 208 in
the thread listing GUI 206 provided by the messaging
application on the touch screen display 204 of the client
computing device 202 . As described with reference to FIGS.
2A and 3A , in FIG . 4A and in response to a detected
selection of the messaging thread control 210 including the
missed messages indicator 212 , the messaging application
provides the messaging thread GUI 214 on the touch screen
display 204 of the client- computing device 202 . Similar to
FIGS . 2B and 3B , the messaging thread GUI 214 in FIG . 4B
includes the group messaging thread 216 of electronic
messages (e .g., the electronic messages 218a -218d)
exchanged between the participants in the group messaging
thread 216 .
10089 ]. Further illustrated in FIG . 4B , in one or more
embodiments , the messaging application provides the last
read position bar 220 directly adjacent to the last electronic
message read by the user of the client- computing device 202
( e. g ., the electronic message 218d ). As described above with
reference to FIGS. 2B and 3B , the messaging application
determines when the user of the client-computing device
202 becomes absent from the group messaging thread 216
and identifies one or more electronic messages added to the
group messaging thread 216 by other group messaging
thread participants during the period of absence correspond
ing to the user of the client- computing device 202 . The
messaging application then calculates a score for each added
electronic message and identifies one or more highlight
messages based on the calculated scores.
[0090 ] In one or more embodiments , the last read position
bar 220 is selectable . For example, in response to detecting
a selection of the last read position bar 220 , the messaging
application replaces the messaging thread GUI 214 with
another GUI dedicated to highlightmessages. For instance ,
as shown in FIG . 4C , in response to detecting a selection of
the last read position bar 220 , the messaging application
replaces the messaging thread GUI 214 with the general
highlight GUI 232 . As shown in FIG . 4C , the messaging
application can replace the messaging thread GUI 214 with
the general highlight GUI 232 via a slide -over animation .
Alternatively, the messaging application can replace the
messaging thread GUI 214 with the general highlight GUI
232 via other types of animation (e. g., a fade -out/ fade -in ).
[0091] As illustrated in FIG . 4D , the general highlight
GUI 232 includes a listing of highlight messages 238a ,
238b , and 238c . In one or more embodiments, themessaging
application copies each of the highlight messages 238a -238c
May 9 , 2019
from the group messaging thread 216 in response to deter
mining that each highlight message 238a -238c has a high
calculated score. Additionally, in at least one embodiment,
the messaging application positions each highlightmessage
238a -238c in the general highlight GUI 232 based on the
calculated scores associated with each corresponding high
light message . For example, the calculated score for the
highlight message 238a may be higher than the scores for
the electronic messages associated with the highlightmes
sages 238b and 238c . In an alternative embodiment, the
messaging application positions each highlight message
238a -238c in the general highlight GUI 232 based on the
rank associated with each corresponding electronic message .
For example , the rank for the electronic message associated
with the highlight message 238a may be higher than the
scores for the electronic messages associated with the high
light messages 238b and 238c.
[0092 ] As shown in FIG . 4D , the general highlight GUI
232 includes highlight messages from several categories of
electronic messages . For example , the highlight message
238a is associated with a media electronic message . Further ,
the highlight message 238b is associated with an event
electronic message, and the highlight message 238c is
associated with a mention electronic message . In additional
or alternative embodiments , the messaging application can
provide additional graphical user interfaces including spe
cific categories of highlight messages . For example , in one
or more embodiments , in response to detected user interac
tion with the general highlight GUI 232 (e. g., a swipe -left
touch gesture ), the messaging application replaces the gen
eral highlight GUI 232 with the category highlight GUI 234 ,
as shown in FIG . 4E . As shown in FIG . 4E , the category
highlight GUI 234 includes the highlight messages 238a ,
238d , and 238e , each associated with a media electronic
message.
(0093 ] In one or more embodiments, the messaging appli
cation provides a different types of category highlightGUIS
in response to a detected user interaction with the general
highlight GUI 232 . For example , in one embodiment, in
response to detecting a swipe -left touch gesture with the
general highlight GUI 232 , the messaging application pro
vides the category highlight GUI 234 including highlight
messages associated with mention electronic messages . In
one or more embodiments , in response to detecting repeated
left-swipes, the messaging application provides additional
GUIs including further categories of highlight excerpts.
[0094 ] In at least one embodiment, the messaging appli
cation provides the categories of highlightmessages based
on factors associated with the user of the client-computing
device 202. For example , the electronic communication
system 100 can analyze the user's activity history relative to
the electronic messaging system 108 to determine the types
of highlight messages the user interacts with most fre
quently . Accordingly , themessaging application can provide
the category highlight GUI 234 including highlight mes
sages associated with electronic messages with which the
user is most likely to interact.
[0095 ] In response to a detected selection of a highlight
message, the messaging application navigates the group
messaging thread 216 to a highlightmessage associated with
the selected highlight excerpt. For example , in response to a
detected selection of the highlight message 238d , the mes
saging application navigates the group messaging thread 216
to the highlightmessage 226d within the messaging thread
US 2019/0138174 A1
GUI 214, as shown in FIG . 4F. In one ormore embodiments,
the messaging application also provides the last read posi
tion bar 220 directly adjacent to the highlight message 226d
and updates the last read position bar 220 to reflect the user 's
current position in the group messaging thread 216 as well
as the number of remaining unread highlightmessages. In at
least one embodiment, the messaging application provides
the general highlight GUI 232 in response to another selec
tion of the last read position bar 220.
[0096 ] Turning now to FIG . 5 , additional detail is provided
regarding components and capabilities of the electronic
communication system 100 in accordance with one or more
embodiments . In particular, FIG . 5 illustrates a schematic
diagram of another example embodiment of the electronic
communication system 100 . As shown in FIG . 5 , the elec
tronic communication system 100 includes various compo
nents for performing the processes and features described
herein . For example , as shown in FIG . 5 , the electronic
communication system 100 includes but is not limited to , the
client-computing device 102 and the server(s ) 106 hosting a
social networking system 518 and the electronic messaging
system 108 . Further illustrated in FIG . 5 , the social net
working system 518 includes a social graph 520 with node
information 522 and edge information 524. Also illustrated
in FIG . 4 , the electronic messaging system 108 includes the
thread manager 526 and data storage 528 including elec
tronic messaging data 530 . Additionally, the client- comput
ing device 102 includes the social networking system appli
cation 502, the electronic messaging system application 104
including the activity tracker 504 and the highlightmanager
506 , the display manager 508 , the user input detector 510 ,
and the data storage 512 including social networking system
data 514 and electronic messaging system data 516 .
100971. In at least one embodiment, the electronic commu
nication system 100 accesses the social networking system
518 in order to identify and analyze social networking
system user data . Accordingly , as shown in FIG . 5 , the social
networking system 518 includes the social graph 520 for
representing a plurality of users , actions, and concepts . For
example , in one or more embodiments , the social graph 520
is accessible by the social networking system 518 and the
electronic messaging system 108 . In one or more embodi
ments , the social graph 520 includes node information 522
and edge information 524 . Node information 522 of the
social graph 520 stores information including, for example ,
nodes for users and nodes for repositories. Edge information
524 of the social graph 520 stores information including
relationship between nodes and/ or actions occurring within
the social networking system 518 . Further details regarding
the social networking system 518 , the social graph 520 ,
edges, and nodes are presented below with respect to FIG .
12 .
[0098 ] Each of the components 104 and 502-512 of the
client-computing device 102, the components 520 of the
social networking system 518 , and the components 526 -528
of the electronic messaging system 108 can be implemented
using a computing device including at least one processor
executing instructions that cause the electronic communica
tion system 100 to perform the processes described herein .
In some embodiments , the components of the electronic
communication system 100 can be implemented by the
server ( s ) 106 , or across multiple server devices. Additionally
or alternatively, a combination of one or more server devices
and one or more client devices can implement the compo
May 9 , 2019
nents of the electronic communication system 100 . Addi
tionally or alternatively, the components of the electronic
communication system 100 can comprise a combination of
computer -executable instructions and hardware .
[0099 ] In one or more embodiments, the social networking
system application 502 and /or the electronic messaging
system application 104 ( e. g., the messaging application
described with reference to FIGS. 2A - 4F ) are native appli
cations installed on the client - computing device 102 . For
example , the social networking system application 502
and /or the electronic messaging system application 104 can
be mobile applications that install and run on a mobile
device , such as a smart phone or tablet computer . Alterna
tively , the social networking system application 502 and /or
the electronic messaging system application 104 can be
desktop applications, widgets , or other forms of a native
computer programs. Furthermore, the social networking
system application 502 and /or the electronic messaging
system application 104 may be remote applications accessed
by the client -computing device 102 . For example , the social
networking system application 502 and/or the electronic
messaging system application 104 may be web applications
that are executed within a web browser of the client
computing device 102 .
[0100] In one ormore embodiments, the social networking
system application 502 provides graphical user interfaces
and interactive display elements that enable the user of the
client- computing device 102 to interact with the social
networking system 518 . For example , the socialnetworking
system application 502 enables the user of the client
computing device 102 to view and compose social network
ing system posts, submit comments, “ Like ” posts and digital
media , and so forth . Accordingly, the social networking
system application 502 provides and receives information to
and from the social networking system 518 hosted by the
server(s ) 106 .
[0101 ] As mentioned above , and as shown in FIG . 5, the
client- computing device 102 also includes the electronic
messaging system application 104 ( e . g ., the electronic mes
saging system application 104a , 104b , or 104c illustrated in
FIG . 1). In one or more embodiments , the electronic mes
saging system application 104 provides access to features of
the electronic communication system 100 , as well as to
features of the electronic messaging system 108 .
[0102 ] As further shown in FIG . 5 , the electronic messag
ing system application 104 includes the activity tracker 504 .
In one or more embodiments , the activity tracker 504
monitors the usage and activity rate associated with the
electronic messaging system application 104 . For example ,
in one or more embodiments, the activity tracker 504 detects
and monitors how the user of the client- computing device
102 utilizes the electronic messaging system application
104. To illustrate , the activity tracker 504 detects how often
the user of the client- computing device 102 accesses the
electronic messaging system application 104 , the types of
messaging threads with which the user interacts ( e . g ., group
messaging threads, two -person messaging thread , messag
ing threads including a commercial business entity ), the
types of messaging thread conversations the user engages
with most frequently ( e. g ., conversations planning an event,
conversations discussing politics, conversations sharing
media items), how long the user's absences from group
messaging threads last, whether and how often the user
US 2019/0138174 A1
interacts with highlightmessages, and the types of highlight
messages with which the user interacts most frequently
[ 0103] Additionally, in one or more embodiments , the
activity tracker 504 determines when the user of the client
computing device 102 becomes absent from a particular
group messaging thread . For example, in at least one
embodiment, the activity tracker 504 constantly monitors
the user 's interactions with the group messaging thread .
When the user stops interacting with the group messaging
thread for a threshold amount of time, the activity tracker
504 determines that the user 's period of absence has begun .
More specifically , the activity tracker 504 determines a
timestamp associated with each of the user's interactions
with the group messaging thread . When the activity tracker
504 fails to determine a user interaction timestamp for a
threshold amount of time ( e. g ., one minute , 5 minutes, 30
minutes ), the activity tracker 504 determines that the user ' s
period of absence began at the last determined timestamp.
When the user next accesses and /or interacts with the group
messaging thread , the activity tracker 504 determines a
timestamp associated with this new activity . In one or more
embodiments , the activity tracker 504 determines that the
user ' s period of absence includes the time in - between the
timestamp at the beginning of the user 's period of absence
and the timestamp at the end of the user 's period of absence .
[0104 ] As shown in FIG . 5 , and as mentioned above, the
electronic messaging system application 104 further
includes a highlight manager 506 . In one or more embodi
ments, the highlight manager 506 handles all activities
involved in identifying and providing highlight messages to
the user of the client- computing device 102 . For example , in
one or more embodiments, the highlightmanager 506 iden
tifies all electronic messages submitted to a group messaging
thread during a period of absence associated with the user of
the client- computing device 102 . As discussed above, the
activity tracker 504 determines starting and ending time
stamps associated with the user 's period of absence from a
group messaging thread . Accordingly , in at least one
embodiment, the highlight manager 506 identifies all elec
tronic messages submitted to the group messaging thread
during the user 's period of absence by identifying all elec
tronic messages in the stack associated with the group
messaging thread that are associated with a timestamp that
falls in -between the starting and ending timestamps associ
ated with the user 's period of absence.
[0105 ] After identifying all electronic messages in the
group messaging thread that were submitted by other par
ticipants during the user's period of absence, the highlight
manager 506 calculates a score for each identified electronic
message based on characteristics associated with the elec
tronic message and characteristics associated with the user
of the client- computing device 102 . For example, in one or
more embodiments , the highlight manager 506 determines
characteristics associated with an electronic message by
analyzing the contents of the electronic message. For
instance , the highlight manager 506 can analyze digital
media items included in an electronic message to determine
a type associated with the digital media ( e.g ., digital pho
tograph or digital video ), and to determine what is depicted
by the digital media (e.g., by performing image analysis
and / or metadata analysis ) .
[0106 ] Furthermore, the highlight manager 506 deter
mines characteristics associated with an electronic message
by analyzing text associated with the electronic message .
May 9 , 2019
For example , the highlight manager 506 can analyze text
associated with the electronic message to identify a question
within the text, event information within the text, a hyper
link within the text, or a mention of the user of the client
computing device 102 within the text. In one or more
embodiments , the highlight manager 506 utilizes one or
more techniques including natural language processing,
machine learning , grammars , databases, and social network
ing system information analysis in order to analyze the text
associated with an electronic message .
0107 ] In one or more embodiments , the highlight man
ager 506 further determines characteristics associated with
an electronic message by analyzing surrounding electronic
message activity . For example , in at least one embodiment,
the level of group engagement corresponding to an elec
tronic message is a characteristic that can affect the score
calculated for that electronic message. Accordingly, the
highlight manager 506 can analyze surrounding electronic
message activity by identifying electronic messages that
immediately preceding ( e. g ., leading up to the electronic
message being analyzed , as well as electronic messages that
immediately follow the electronic message being analyzed .
In one embodiment, the highlight manager 506 identifies a
predefined number of preceding and succeeding electronic
messages . Alternatively, the highlight manager 506 can
identify a number of preceding and succeeding electronic
messages that represent a predefined percentage of the entire
group messaging thread .
[0108 ] With a number of preceding and succeeding elec
tronic messages identified , in one or more embodiments , the
highlight manager 506 analyzes timestamps associated with
the preceding and succeeding electronic messages relative to
the electronic message being analyzed to determine how the
analysis electronic message affected the level of group
engagement. For example , the highlight manager 506 can
analyze the timestamps associated with the preceding and
succeeding electronic messages relative to the analysis elec
tronic message to determine whether an increase in the rate
of messaging followed the analysis electronic message ,
whether an increase in the number of messages per minute
followed the analysis electronic message, or whether the
analysis electronic message engaged group messaging
thread participants after a lull ( e. g., a long pause in the
submission of electronic messages to the group messaging
thread ). In at least one embodiment, these characteristics
indicate that the analysis electronic message introduced a
new topic , triggered or reinvigorated the current conversa
tion .
[0109 ] The highlight manager 506 can also analyze the
contents of preceding and succeeding electronic messages
relative to the analysis electronic message to determine
whether an increase in message length followed the analysis
electronic message. For example , if the message length
associated with the electronic messages that succeeding the
analysis electronic message increases, the highlightmanager
506 may determine that the analysis electronic message
likely caused an increase in group engagement.
[0110 ] In one or more embodiments , the highlight man
ager 506 further determines characteristics associated with
an electronic message by analyzing the electronic message
relative to the user of the client -computing device 102 . For
example , in at least one embodiment, the highlightmanager
506 accesses social networking system information ( e . g ., via
the social networking system application 502 , or directly
US 2019/0138174 A1
13
from the social networking system 518 ). From this infor
mation , the highlight manager 506 can determine the user' s
interests , occupation , and demographic information , as well
as relationship coefficients the user shares with other social
networking system users . In at least one embodiment, the
highlight manager 506 can utilize the social networking
system information to determine whether the user of the
client- computing device 102 shares a relationship coefficient
with the sender of an electronic messages via the social
networking system 518 . Thus, if an identified relationship
coefficient between the user of the client- computing device
102 and the sender of an electronic message is sufficiently
high (e .g., higher than a predetermined threshold ), the
highlight manager 506 can determine that the identified
relationship coefficient is a characteristic of the electronic
message.
0111 ] After identifying one or more characteristics of an
electronic message , the highlight manager 506 calculates a
score for the electronic message based on the identified one
or more characteristics. For example, in at least one embodi
ment, the highlight manager 506 assigns a weighted scalar
value to each identified characteristic and calculates the
score for the electronic message by summing the weighted
scalar values. In one or more embodiments , the highlight
manager 506 weights the scalar values based the importance
of various characteristics. For example , an identified men
tion of the user of the client - computing device 102 in an
electronic message is a characteristic that the highlight
manager 506 may weight heavier than a digital photograph
being included in the electronic message .
[0112] After calculating scores for each electronic mes
sage that was submitted to the group messaging thread
during the period of absence associated with the user of the
client- computing device 102, the highlight manager 506
identifies one or more highlight messages among the scored
electronic messages. In one or more embodiments, the
highlight manager 506 identifies one or more highlight
messages by identifying electronic messages with a calcu
lated score above a predetermined threshold . Additionally or
alternatively , the highlight manager 506 can identify one or
more highlight messages by identifying a top percentage of
scored electronic messages. Additionally or alternatively ,
the highlight manager 506 can identify one or more high
light messages by identifying a top number of scored
electronic messages.
[0113] In one or more embodiments , the highlight man
ager 506 also categorizes identified highlight messages . As
discussed above , in some embodiments, the electronic com
munication system 100 provides identified highlight mes
sages to the user of the client- computing device 102 in
categories. For example , as shown in FIG . 4D , the electronic
communication system 100 provides the category highlight
GUI including excerpts associated with all identified media
highlight messages . Thus, in one ormore embodiments , the
highlight manager 506 categorizes identified highlight mes
sages by determining a type associated with each highlight
message based on the characteristics discussed above . For
example , if a highlight message is associated with a char
acteristic indicating the highlight message includes a digital
media item , the highlight manager 506 categorizes that
highlightmessage as a media highlight message . Similarly,
if a highlight message is associated with a characteristic
indicating the highlightmessage includes a mention of the
user of the client- computing device 102, the highlightman
May 9 , 2019
ager 506 categorizes that highlight message as a mention
highlightmessage . In one or more embodiments, the high
light manager 506 categorizes highlight messages into cat
e gories including , but not limited to ,media , mention , hyper
link , event, audio , and interests .
[0114 ] In one or more embodiments , the highlight man
ager 506 also ranks identified highlight messages . As
described above , the electronic communication system 100
presents identified highlight messages to the user of the
client-computing device 102 simply based on each highlight
messages ' calculated score . Alternatively , also as described
above , the electronic communication system 100 can present
identified highlight messages in a ranked order based on
additional considerations . Accordingly, in one or more
embodiments , the highlightmanager 506 ranks the identified
highlight messages based on one or more of the scores
associated with the identified highlight messages , social
networking system information associated with the user of
the client-computing device 102 , or electronic messaging
system information associated with the user of the client
computing device 102 .
[0115 ] For example , the highlight manager 506 can rank
the identified highlight messages based on the scores asso
ciated with the identified highlight messages by simply
assigning the highest rank to the highest scored highlight
message , and so forth in descending order. Additionally or
alternatively, the highlight manager 506 can rank the iden
tified highlight messages based on social networking system
information associated with the user of the client-computing
device 102 by analyzing social networking system informa
tion associated with the user to identify the user ' s activities,
interests , demographic information , and relationships. In at
least one embodiment, the highlight manager 506 can assign
the highest rank to an identified highlightmessage with the
strongest association with the user' s social networking sys
tem information , and so forth in descending order. Addi
tionally or alternatively, the highlightmanager 506 can rank
the identified highlight messages based on electronic mes
saging system information associated with the user of the
client- computing device 102 by analyzing electronic mes
saging system information to identify communication
threads with which the user frequently interacts , types of
highlightmessages with which the user frequently interacts ,
and types of highlight excerpts with which the user fre
quently interacts . In at least one embodiment, the highlight
manager 506 can assign the highest rank to the identified
highlight message with the strongest association with the
user 's electronic messaging system information , and so forth
in descending order .
[0116 ] Furthermore , in one or more embodiments , the
highlight manager 506 generates highlight excerpts associ
ated with each of the identified highlight messages. As
described above , in some embodiments and in order to save
display space and reduce visual clutter, the electronic mes
saging system application 104 presents highlight excerpts
rather than the full highlight messages . Accordingly , the
highlight manager 506 generates a highlight excerpt asso
ciated with a highlight message by including within the
highlight excerpt with the most relevant portions of the
highlight message. For example, if the highlight message
includes a digitalmedia item , the highlightmanager 506 can
extract the digital media item for inclusion in the associated
highlight excerpt. Similarly , if the highlight message
includes only text, the highlight manager 506 extracts the
US 2019/0138174 A1
14
most relevant portion of the text for inclusion in the asso
ciated highlight excerpt. In at least one embodiment, the
highlight manager 506 can include an interactive element in
a highlight excerpt. For example , if the highlight excerpt
includes the text of a question directed at the user of the
client- computing device 102 , the highlightmanager 506 can
include a selectable link or button in the associated highlight
excerpt that, when selected , automatically populates a text
box with a mention of the sender of the highlight message .
Furthermore, the highlightmanager 506 includes a highlight
message ' s group message thread identifier as part of the
associated highlight excerpt.
[0117 ] Additionally, the highlight manager 506 presents
identified highlight messages and /or highlight excerpts to
the user of the client-computing device 102 . For example, as
described above, in one embodiment, the highlight manager
506 generates and provides a selectable display element
( e . g ., the highlight message control 222 as shown in FIG .
2B ) based on identified highlight messages . In another
embodiment, the highlight manager 506 generates and pro
vides a horizontally scrollable display ( e. g ., the horizontal
scroll display 228 as shown in FIG . 3B ) including generated
highlight excerpts associated with identified highlight mes
sages . In a further embodiment, the highlightmanager 506
generates and provides one or more highlight interfaces
( e. g ., the general highlight GUI 232 as shown in FIG . 4D or
the category highlight GUI 234 as shown in FIG . 4E )
including generated highlight excerpts associated with iden
tified highlightmessages .
[ 0118 ] In one or more embodiments , the highlight man
ager 506 determines which display of highlight messages
and /or highlight excerpts to provide to the user of the
client- computing device 102. For example , as described
above, the electronic communication system 100 can
include different buttons in different orders within the high
light message control 222 as shown in FIG . 2B . Further
more , the electronic communication system 100 can provide
various category highlight GUIs ( e . g . the category highlight
GUI 234 as shown in FIG . 4E ) in various orders. Accord
ingly , in one or more embodiments, the highlight manager
506 analyzes electronicmessaging system information asso
ciated with the user of the client-computing device 102 in
order to determine which types or categories of highlight
messages and highlight excerpts with which the user most
frequently interacts . Furthermore , by analyzing the user ' s
electronic messaging system information , the highlightman
ager 506 can determine whether to provide a selectable
display element ( e . g ., as described with reference to FIGS .
2A - 2E ), a horizontally scrollable display ( e.g., as described
with reference to FIGS. 3A - 3E ), or additional graphical user
interfaces (e . g ., as described with reference to FIGS .
4A -4F ).
[0119 ] Additionally , the highlight manager 506 navigates
to a highlightmessage within the group messaging thread in
response to a detected user interaction with a selectable
display element ( e . g ., as described with reference to FIGS .
2A -2E ), a horizontally scrollable display ( e . g ., as described
with reference to FIGS. 3A - 3E ), or additional graphicaluser
interfaces (e .g., as described with reference to FIGS .
4A -4F ). For example , the electronic messaging system 108
assigns a thread identifier to each electronic message in a
communication thread . In one or more embodiments , an
electronic message' s thread identifier provides the electronic
message 's display position within the communication
May 9 , 2019
thread . Accordingly, in response to a detected selection of a
button within the selectable display element ( e . g ., as
described with reference to FIGS. 2A -2E ), or a detected
selection of a highlight excerpt (e .g ., as described with
reference to FIGS . 3A - 3E , or as described with reference to
FIGS. 4A - 4F ), the highlight manager 506 navigates the
group communication thread to a display position associated
with the group messaging thread identifier referenced in the
selected highlightmessage or highlight excerpt.
[0120] As mentioned above , and as shown in FIG . 5 , the
client- computing device 102 includes the display manager
508 . In one ormore embodiments , the display manager 508
interacts with both the social networking system application
502 and the electronic messaging system application 104 .
The display manager 508 provides, manages, and /or controls
graphical user interfaces that allow a user to interact with the
electronic communication system 100. For example, the
display manager 508 provides a graphical user interface that
facilitates the display of a social networking system user 's
newsfeed . Similarly , the display manager 508 provides a
graphical user interface that displays the contents of a group
messaging thread (e . g ., the group communication thread
216 ) .
[0121 ] More specifically , the display manager 508 facili
tates the display of a graphical user interface (e.g ., by way
of a touch screen display associated with the client- comput
ing device 102 ). For example , the display manager 508 may
compose the graphical user interface of a plurality of graphi
cal components, objects , and /or elements that allow a user to
view and interact with communication threads. Further, the
display manager 508 directs the client-computing device
102 to display one or more graphical objects, controls , or
elements that facilitate user input for interacting with com
munication threads. For example, in one or more embodi
ments , the display manager 508 provides a graphical user
interface that includes a touch screen keyboard .
[0122 ] Additionally , the display manager 508 is capable of
transitioning between two or more graphical user interfaces
and /or applications . For example , in one embodiment, the
display manager 508 provides a newsfeed to the user of the
client- computing device 102 within the social networking
system application 502 , containing one or more social
networking system posts from co -users associated with the
user via the social networking system 518 . Later, in response
to a detected input, the display manager 508 transitions to a
second graphical user interface within the electronic mes
saging system application 104 that includes a listing of one
or more communication threads . Alternatively, in response
to a detected input, the display manager 508 transitions
within graphical user interfaces provided by the same appli
cation .
[0123 ] As further illustrated in FIG . 5, the client-comput
ing device 102 includes a user input detector 510 . As with
the display manager 508, in one or more embodiments , the
user input detector 510 interacts with both the social net
working system application 502 and the electronic messag
ing system application 104 . In one or more embodiments ,
the user input detector 510 detects , receives, and / or facili
tates user input in any suitable manner. In some examples,
the user input detector 510 detects one or more user inter
actions with a graphical user interface . As referred to herein ,
a " user interaction " means a single interaction , or combina
tion of interactions , received from a user by way of one or
more input devices .
US 2019/0138174 A1
15
[0124] For example, the user input detector 510 detects a
user interaction from a keyboard , mouse , touch pad , touch
screen , and /or any other input device . In the event the
client- computing device 102 includes a touch screen , the
user input detector 510 detects one or more touch gestures
(e .g ., swipe gestures, tap gestures, pinch gestures, reverse
pinch gestures, etc .) from a user that forms a user interac
tion . In some examples , a user can provide the touch
gestures in relation to and / or directed at one or more
graphical objects or graphical elements of a graphical user
interface .
[ 0125 ] The user input detector 510 may additionally, or
alternatively, receive data representative of a user interac
tion . For example , the user input detector 510 may receive
one or more user configurable parameters from a user, one
or more commands from the user, and / or any other suitable
user input. The user input detector 510 may receive input
data from one ormore components of the social networking
system 518 , from the electronic messaging system 108 , or
from one or more remote locations.
[0126 ] The social networking system application 502 and /
or the electronic messaging system application 104 performs
one or more functions in response to the user input detector
510 detecting user input and /or receiving other data . Gen
erally, a user can control, navigate within , and otherwise use
the social networking system application 502 and/or the
electronic messaging system application 104 by providing
one or more user input that the user input detector 510 can
detect. For example, in response to the user input detector
510 detecting user input, one or more components of the
social networking system application 502 allow a user to
scroll through a newsfeed , select a digital media item , or
submit a comment to a post. Similarly, in response to the
user input detector 510 detecting user input, one or more
components of the electronic messaging system application
104 allow a user to view a messaging thread list, select a
messaging thread control, or interact with a communication
thread .
[0127 ] As shown in FIG . 5 , and as mentioned above, the
client-computing device 102 includes the data storage 512 .
The data storage 512 includes social networking system data
514 and electronic messaging system data 516 . In one or
more embodiments, the social networking system data 514
is representative of social networking system information ,
such as described herein . In one or more embodiments , the
electronic messaging system data 516 is representative of
electronic messaging information , such as described herein .
[0128 ] As further shown in FIG . 5 , and as mentioned
above, the server ( s ) 106 hosts the social networking system
518 . The social networking system 518 provides social
networking system posts to one or more users of the social
networking system 518 ( e.g ., by way of a profile, a news
feed, a timeline, or a “ wall” ). For example, one or more
embodiments provide a user with a social networking sys
tem newsfeed including posts from one or more co -users
associated with the user via the social networking system
518. In one or more embodiments , the user scrolls through
the social networking system newsfeed , interacting with
posts and other content of interest.
[0129 ] Also shown in FIG . 5 , the server (s) 106 supports
the electronic messaging system 108 . As discussed above,
the electronic messaging system 108 provides dedicated
electronic messaging services to the users of the electronic
messaging system 108 . For example , the electronic messag
May 9 , 2019
ing system 108 maintains a stack of communication threads
associated with each electronic messaging system user. The
electronic messaging system 108 can add a communication
thread (or electronic message ) to a particular stack in order
to make the communication thread available to the user
associated with the stack , or can remove a communication
thread (or electronic message ) from the stack in order to
make the communication thread (or electronic message )
unavailable to the user associated with the stack .
[0130 ] As shown in FIG . 5 , the electronic messaging
system 108 includes the thread manager 526 . In one or more
embodiments, the thread manager 526 receives and directs
electronic messages submitted by participants of a commu
nication thread . For example , in a group messaging thread
between multiple participants, a first participant may submit
an electronic message to the electronic messaging system
108 for inclusion in the group messaging thread . Accord
ingly, the thread manager 526 receives the submitted elec
tronic message and provides the electronic message to the
other participants in the group messaging thread . In at least
one embodiment, the thread manager 526 provides a
received electronic message to other messaging thread par
ticipants by adding the received electronic message to a
communication thread stack associated with each of the
other messaging thread participants .
[0131] Further shown in FIG . 5 , and as mentioned above,
the electronic messaging system 108 includes the data
storage 528 . The data storage 528 includes electronic mes
saging data 530. In one ormore embodiments , the electronic
messaging data 530 is representative of electronic messag
ing information , such as described herein .
10132 ] FIGS. 1 -5 , the corresponding text and examples ,
provide a number of differentmethods, systems, and devices
for identifying and providing one or more highlight mes
sages associated with a group messaging thread . In addition
to the foregoing, embodiments can also be described in
terms of flowcharts comprising acts and steps in a method
for accomplishing a particular result. For example, FIGS.
6 - 9 may be performed with less or more steps/ acts or the
steps/acts may be performed in differing orders . Addition
ally , the steps/ acts described herein may be repeated or
performed in parallel with one another or in parallel with
different instances of the same or similar steps/ acts .
10133 ] FIG . 6 illustrates a flowchart of one example
method 600 of identifying one or more highlightmessages
in a group messaging thread . Themethod 600 includes an act
610 of determining a period of time corresponding to a
participant's absence from a group messaging thread . In
particular , the act 610 can involve determining, for a group
messaging thread comprising a plurality of participants, a
period of time corresponding to a participant' s absence from
the group messaging thread . For example, in order to
determine the period of time corresponding to the partici
pant' s absence , the method 600 can further include an act of
determining that the participant has not been active within
the group messaging thread for more than a threshold
amount of time. Furthermore , the method 600 can also
include an act of determining the period of time correspond
ing to the participant' s absence from the group messaging
thread in response to the determination that the participant
has not been active within the group messaging thread for
more than the threshold amount of time.
[0134] The method 600 also includes an act 620 of iden
tifying electronic messages added to the group messaging
US 2019/0138174 A1 May 9 , 2019

thread during the participant's absence . In particular, the act ing one or more electronic messages having a calculated
620 can involve identifying a plurality of electronic mes score above a predetermined threshold .
sages added to the group messaging thread during the [0138 ] Additionally, the method 600 further includes an
determined period of time corresponding to the participant's act 650 of presenting the identified highlight messages. In
absence from the group messaging thread. For example, in particular, the act 650 can involve, in response to the
one or more embodiments, identifying the plurality of elec participant accessing the group messaging thread after the
tronic messages added to the group messaging thread during participant's absence from the group messaging thread ,
the determined period of time includes identifying a starting presenting the identified one or more highlightmessages to
timestamp of the determined period of time and an ending the participant. For example , in one or more embodiments ,
timestamp of the determined period of time, and identifying presenting the identified one or more highlightmessages to
the plurality of electronic messages that have timestamps the participant is in response to detecting a selection of a
that fall in between the starting timestamp and the ending display element associated with the one or more highlight
timestamp. messages.
[0135 ] Furthermore , the method 600 includes an act 630 [0139 ] FIG . 7 illustrates a flowchart of one example
of calculating a score for each identified electronic message. method 700 of providing identified highlight messages to a
In particular, the act 630 can involve calculating, for each of group messaging thread participant. The method 700
the identified plurality of electronic messages , a score for the includes an act 710 of determining a period of absence for
electronic message based on a plurality of characteristics a participant of a group messaging thread . In particular, the
associated with the electronic message and with the partici act 710 can involve determining, for a group messaging
pant . For example , in one or more embodiments, calculating thread comprising a plurality of participants, a period of time
the score for the electronic message includes analyzing the corresponding to a participant' s absence from the group
electronic message to identify one or more digital media messaging thread .
items within the electronic message, and calculating the [0140 ] The method 700 also includes an act 720 of iden
score for the electronic message based on the identified one tifying highlight messages added to the group messaging
or more digital media items. In additional or alternative thread during the period of absence. In particular, the act 720
embodiments , calculating the score for the electronic mes can involve identifying one or more highlight messages
sage includes : analyzing text of the electronic message to from messages added to the group messaging thread during
identify one or more of a question within the electronic the determined period of time corresponding to the partici
message , event information within the electronic message , a pant's absence from the group messaging thread . For
hyperlink within the electronic message , or a mention of the example , identifying one or more highlight messages
participant within the electronic message ; and calculating includes calculating a score for each of the plurality of
the score for the electronic message based on the analysis of electronic messages corresponding to the participant' s
the text. In additional or alternative embodiments, calculat absence from the group messaging thread , and determining
ing the score for the electronic message includes determin electronic messages with a calculated score higher than a
ing a networking system coefficient between a sender of the threshold score are highlight messages . In one or more
electronic message and the participant, and calculating the embodiments , calculating the score for each of the plurality
score for the electronic message based on the determined of electronic messages is based on one or more of a digital
networking system coefficient. media item in each electronic message , a question within
0136 . In additional or alternative embodiments , calculat each electronic message , a hyperlink within each electronic
ing the score for the electronic message includes analyzing message , event information within each electronic message,
surrounding electronic message activity to determine a level a mention of the participant within each electronic message ,
of group engagement corresponding to the electronic mes message activity surrounding each electronic message , or a
sage , and calculating the score for the electronic message networking system coefficient between the participant and a
based on the surrounding electronic message activity analy sender of each electronic message .
sis. For example , in at least one embodiment , analyzing the 10141] Furthermore , the method 700 includes an act 730
surrounding electronic message activity to determine a level of providing a selectable display element for accessing the
of group engagement includes identifying a plurality of highlightmessage . In particular, the act 730 can involve, in
immediately preceding electronic messages in the group response to the participant accessing the group messaging
messaging thread relative to the electronic message, identi thread after the participant' s absence from the group mes
fying a plurality of succeeding electronic messages in the saging thread , providing a selectable display element for
group messaging thread relative to the electronic message , accessing the one or more highlight messages within a
identifying timestamps associated with the plurality of graphical user interface for the group messaging thread , the
immediately preceding electronic messages and with the selectable display element being positioned adjacent to the
plurality of succeeding electronic messages, and determin participant's last -read electronic message in the group mes
ing the level of group engagement for the electronic message saging thread . For example , providing the selectable display
based on the identified timestamps . element for accessing the one or more highlight messages
[0137 ] The method 600 further includes an act 640 of can include determining a type associated with each of the
identifying highlight messages based on the calculated one or more highlightmessages, and configuring the select
scores. In particular , the act 640 can involve identifying , able display element to indicate a number of each deter
based on the calculated scores for the plurality of electronic mined type of highlight message .
messages, one or more highlightmessages from the plurality [0142 ] The method 700 also includes an act 740 of navi
of electronic messages . For example , in one or more gating to a first highlight message in the group messaging
embodiments , identifying one or more highlight messages thread . In particular, the act 740 can involve, in response to
from the plurality of electronic messages includes identify a detected selection of the selectable display element, navi
US 2019/0138174 A1
17
gating , within the graphical user interface for the group
messaging thread , to a first highlight message of the one or
more highlight messages. For example , in one or more
embodiments , navigating to the first highlight message of
the one or more highlight messages includes identifying a
group message thread identifier associated with the first of
the one or more highlight messages, and navigating, within
the graphical user interface for the group messaging thread ,
to the identified group message thread identifier.
[0143] In one or more embodiments, the method 700
further includes, in response to navigating to the first high
light message , repositioning the selectable display element
within the graphical user interface for the group messaging
thread , the selectable display element adjacent to the first
highlightmessage. Additionally or alternatively , themethod
700 can also include, after detecting the selection of the
selectable display element and navigating to the first high
light message of the one or more highlight messages :
detecting a second selection of the display element, and
navigating , within the graphical user interface for the group
messaging thread , to a second highlight message of the one
or more highlight messages. In at least one embodiment, the
method 700 includes an act of ranking the identified one or
more highlight messages, wherein ranking the identified one
or more highlight messages is based on one or more of the
scores associated with the one or more highlight messages,
networking system information associated with the partici
pant, or electronic messaging system information associated
with the participant, wherein navigating to the first highlight
message of the one or more highlight messages comprises
navigating to the highest ranked highlightmessage .
[0144 ] FIG . 8 illustrates a flowchart of one example
method 800 of providing identified highlight messages to a
group messaging thread participant. The method 800
includes an act 810 of determining a period of absence for
a participant of a group messaging thread . In particular, the
act 810 can involve determining, for a group messaging
thread comprising a plurality of participants, a period of time
corresponding to a participant' s absence from a group
messaging thread .
[0145 ] The method 800 also includes an act 820 of iden
tifying highlight messages added to the group messaging
thread during the period of absence . In particular, the act 820
can involve identifying one or more highlight messages
from messages added to the group messaging thread during
the determined period of time corresponding to the partici
pant 's absence from the group messaging thread . For
example , in one or more embodiments , identifying one or
more highlight messages includes calculating a score for
each of the plurality of electronic messages corresponding to
the participant' s absence from the group messaging thread ,
and determining electronic messages with a calculated score
higher than a threshold score are highlight messages. In at
least one embodiment, calculating the score for each of the
plurality of electronic messages is based on one or more of
a digitalmedia item in each electronic message , a hyperlink
within each electronic message , a question within each
electronic message , event information within each electronic
message , a mention of the participant within each electronic
message ,message activity surrounding each electronic mes
sage , or a networking system coefficient between the par
ticipant and a sender of each electronic message .
[0146 ] Furthermore, themethod 800 includes an act ling
830
of providing a horizontally scrollable display including
May 9 , 2019
highlight excerpts associated with the highlight messages. In
particular, the act 830 can involve in response to the par
ticipant accessing the group messaging thread after the
participant's absence from the group messaging thread,
providing a horizontally scrollable display below a last
electronic message accessed by the participant within a
graphical user interface for the group messaging thread , the
horizontally scrollable display comprising one or more
highlight excerpts associated with the identified one ormore
highlight messages . For example, in one or more embodi
ments , providing the horizontally scrollable display com
prising one or more highlight excerpts associated with the
identified one or more highlight messages includes, for each
identified highlightmessage , generating a highlight excerpt
based on one or more of a media item from the highlight
message, a text from the highlight message, or a hyperlink
from the highlight message . In at least one embodiment,
generating a highlight excerpt further includes: identifying a
group messaging thread identifier associated with the high
light message , and associating the identified group messag
ing thread identifier with the highlight excerpt .
[0147] The method 800 further includes an act 840 of
navigating to a highlight message in the group messaging
thread . In particular, the act 840 can involve, in response to
a detected selection of a highlight excerpt in the horizontally
scrollable display, navigating, within the graphical user
interface for the group messaging thread , to a highlight
message associated with the selected highlight excerpt . For
example , navigating to the highlight message associated
with the selected highlight excerpt can include navigating ,
within the graphical user interface for the group messaging
thread , to the group messaging thread identifier associated
with the selected highlight excerpt.
[0148 ] In one or more embodiments , the method 800
further includes an act of ranking the one or more highlight
excerpts based on one or more of the scores associated with
the one or more highlight messages, networking system
information associated with the participant, or electronic
messaging system information associated with the partici
pant. The method 800 can also include an act of positioning
the one or more highlight excerpts in the horizontally
scrollable display based on the ranking. Moreover , in at least
one embodiment, the method 800 includes an act of, in
response to navigating to the highlight message associated
with the selected highlight excerpt: removing the selected
highlight excerpt from the horizontally scrollable display,
and providing the horizontally scrollable display below the
highlight message corresponding to the selected highlight
excerpt within the graphical user interface for the group
messaging thread .
[0149 ] FIG . 9 illustrates a flowchart of one example
method 900 of providing identified highlight messages to a
group messaging thread participant. The method 900
includes an act 910 of determining a period of absence for
a participant of a group messaging thread . In particular, the
act 910 can involve determining , for a group messaging
thread comprising a plurality ofparticipants, a period of time
corresponding to a participant's absence from a group
messaging thread .
[0150 ] The method 900 also includes an act 920 of iden
tifying highlight messages added to the group messaging
thread during the period ofabsence . In particular, the act 920
can involve identifying one or more highlight messages
from messages added to the group messaging thread during
US 2019/0138174 A1
the determined period of time corresponding to the partici
pant's absence from the group messaging thread . For
example , in one or more embodiments, identifying one or
more highlight messages includes: calculating a score for
each of the plurality of electronic messages corresponding to
the participant' s absence from the group messaging thread ,
and determining electronic messages with a calculated score
higher than a threshold score are highlight messages. In at
least one embodiment, calculating the score for each of the
plurality of electronic messages is based on one or more of
a digital media item in each electronic message, a question
within each electronic message , a hyperlink within each
electronic message , event information within each electronic
message, a mention of the participant within each electronic
message ,message activity surrounding each electronic mes
sage , or a networking system coefficient between the par
ticipant and a sender of each electronic message .
[0151] Furthermore, the method 900 includes an act 930
of providing a highlight interface including highlight mes
sages. In particular, the act 930 can involve , in response to
the participant selecting a highlight control associated with
the one or more highlight messages displayed within a
graphical user interface including the group messaging
thread , providing a highlightmessage interface including the
one or more highlight messages. For example , in one or
more embodiments , providing the highlight interface includ
ing one ormore highlightmessages includes , for each of the
identified highlight message displayed within the graphical
user interface including the group messaging thread , gener
ating an associated highlight message based on one or more
of a media item from the highlightmessage displayed within
the graphical user interface, text from the highlightmessage
displayed within the graphical user interface, or a hyperlink
from the highlight message displayed within the graphical
user interface. In at least one embodiment, generating an
associated highlightmessage further includes : identifying a
group messaging thread identifier associated with the high
lightmessage displayed within the graphical user interface ,
and associating the identified group messaging thread iden
tifier with the associated highlight message .
[0152 ] The method 900 further includes an act 940 of
navigating to a highlight message in the group messaging
thread . In particular, the act 940 can involve , in response to
a detected selection of a highlight message within the
highlight interface, navigating, within the graphical user
interface for the group messaging thread , to the selected
highlight message . For example, in one or more embodi
ments, navigating to the highlightmessage associated with
the selected highlightmessage from the highlight message
interface comprises navigating , within the graphical user
interface for the group messaging thread , to the group
messaging thread identifier associated with the selected
highlight message from the highlight message interface . In
at least one embodiment, the method 900 further includes , in
response to navigating to the highlightmessage in the group
messaging thread associated with the selected highlight
message from the highlightmessage interface, removing the
selected highlightmessage from the highlightmessage inter
face .
[0153] In one or more embodiments, the method 900 can
include an act of ranking the one or more highlightmessages
in the highlight message interface based on one or more of
the scores associated with the one or more highlight mes -
sages from the group messaging thread , social networking
May 9 , 2019
system information associated with the participant, or elec
tronic messaging system information associated with the
participant. The method 900 can also include an act of
positioning the one or more highlight messages in the
highlight message interface based on the ranking .
[0154 ] Embodiments of the present disclosure may com
prise or utilize a special purpose or general - purpose com
puter including computer hardware , such as, for example ,
one or more processors and system memory , as discussed in
greater detail below . Embodiments within the scope of the
present disclosure also include physical and other computer
readable media for carrying or storing computer -executable
instructions and/or data structures . In particular, one or more
of the processes described herein may be implemented at
least in part as instructions embodied in a non -transitory
computer -readable medium and executable by one or more
computing devices (e.g ., any of the media content access
devices described herein ). In general, a processor ( e. g ., a
microprocessor) receives instructions, from a non - transitory
computer -readable medium , ( e . g ., a memory , etc . ), and
executes those instructions, thereby performing one or more
processes, including one or more of the processes described
herein .
10155 ] Computer -readable media can be any available
media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special
purpose computer system . Computer -readable media that
store computer -executable instructions are non - transitory
computer-readable storage media (devices ). Computer-read
able media that carry computer- executable instructions are
transmission media . Thus , by way of example , and not
limitation , embodiments of the disclosure can comprise at
least two distinctly different kinds of computer-readable
media : non -transitory computer-readable storage media (de
vices ) and transmission media .
10156 ] Non - transitory computer -readable storage media
(devices) includes RAM , ROM , EEPROM , CD -ROM , solid
state drives (“ SSDs” ) (e.g., based on RAM ), Flash memory,
phase - change memory (“ PCM " ) , other types of memory ,
other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other
magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be
used to store desired program code means in the form of
computer -executable instructions or data structures and
which can be accessed by a general purpose or special
purpose computer.
[0157 ] A “ network ” is defined as one or more data links
that enable the transport of electronic data between com
puter systems and /or modules and /or other electronic
devices . When information is transferred or provided over a
network or another communications connection (either
hardwired , wireless , or a combination of hardwired or
wireless ) to a computer, the computer properly views the
connection as a transmission medium . Transmissions media
can include a network and /or data links which can be used
to carry desired program code means in the form of com
puter - executable instructions or data structures and which
can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose
computer . Combinations of the above should also be
included within the scope of computer- readable media .
[0158 ] Further, upon reaching various computer system
components, program code means in the form of computer
executable instructions or data structures can be transferred
automatically from transmission media to non - transitory
computer -readable storage media (devices) ( or vice versa ).
For example , computer-executable instructions or data
US 2019/0138174 A1
19
structures received over a network or data link can be
buffered in RAM within a network interface module (e .g ., a
“ NIC ” ), and then eventually transferred to computer system
RAM and/ or to less volatile computer storage media ( de
vices ) at a computer system . Thus, it should be understood
that non -transitory computer - readable storage media (de
vices ) can be included in computer system components that
also ( or even primarily ) utilize transmission media .
[ 0159 ] Computer-executable instructions comprise , for
example , instructions and data which , when executed at a
processor, cause a general-purpose computer, special pur
pose computer, or special purpose processing device to
perform a certain function or group of functions. In some
embodiments, computer -executable instructions are
executed on a general-purpose computer to turn the general
purpose computer into a special purpose computer imple
menting elements of the disclosure . The computer execut
able instructionsmay be , for example , binaries, intermediate
format instructions such as assembly language , or even
source code. Although the subject matter has been described
in language specific to structural features and/ or method
ological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter
defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to
the described features or acts described above. Rather, the
described features and acts are disclosed as example forms
of implementing the claims.
[0160] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
disclosure may be practiced in network computing environ
ments with many types of computer system configurations,
including, personal computers , desktop computers, laptop
computers , message processors , hand -held devices , multi
processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable
consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, main
frame computers ,mobile telephones, PDAs, tablets , pagers,
routers , switches , and the like . The disclosure may also be
practiced in distributed system environments where local
and remote computer systems, which are linked ( either by
hardwired data links, wireless data links, or by a combina
tion of hardwired and wireless data links) through a network ,
both perform tasks. In a distributed system environment,
program modules may be located in both local and remote
memory storage devices .
[0161] Embodiments of the present disclosure can also be
implemented in cloud computing environments . In this
description , “ cloud computing” is defined as a model for
enabling on -demand network access to a shared pool of
configurable computing resources . For example , cloud com
puting can be employed in the marketplace to offer ubiqui
tous and convenient on - demand access to the shared pool of
configurable computing resources . The shared pool of con
figurable computing resources can be rapidly provisioned
via virtualization and released with low management effort
or service provider interaction , and then scaled accordingly.
[0162] A cloud -computing model can be composed of
various characteristics such as, for example, on -demand
self-service , broad network access , resource pooling, rapid
elasticity , measured service , and so forth . A cloud -comput
ing model can also expose various service models , such as,
for example , Software as a Service (“ SaaS ” ), Platform as a
Service (“ PaaS ” ) , and Infrastructure as a Service (“ IaaS ” ). A
cloud computing model can also be deployed using different
deploymentmodels such as private cloud , community cloud ,
public cloud , hybrid cloud , and so forth . In this description
May 9 , 2019
and in the claims, a " cloud - computing environment” is an
environment in which cloud computing is employed .
[0163 ] FIG . 10 illustrates a block diagram of exemplary
computing device 1000 that may be configured to perform
one or more of the processes described above. One will
appreciate that one or more computing devices such as the
computing device 1000 may implement the electronic com
munication system 100 . As shown by FIG . 10 , the comput
ing device 1000 can comprise a processor 1002, a memory
1004 , a storage device 1006 , an I/ O interface 1008 , and a
communication interface 1010, which may be communica
tively coupled by way of a communication infrastructure
1012 . While an exemplary computing device 1000 is shown
in FIG . 10 , the components illustrated in FIG . 10 are not
intended to be limiting. Additional or alternative compo
nents may be used in other embodiments . Furthermore , in
certain embodiments , the computing device 1000 can
include fewer components than those shown in FIG . 10 .
Components of the computing device 1000 shown in FIG .
10 will now be described in additional detail.
10164 ] In one or more embodiments, the processor 1002
includes hardware for executing instructions , such as those
making up a computer program . As an example and not by
way of limitation , to execute instructions, the processor
1002 may retrieve ( or fetch ) the instructions from an internal
register , an internal cache , the memory 1004 , or the storage
device 1006 and decode and execute them . In one or more
embodiments, the processor 1002 may include one or more
internal caches for data , instructions, or addresses . As an
example and not by way of limitation , the processor 1002
may include one or more instruction caches, one or more
data caches, and one or more translation lookaside buffers
( TLBs ). Instructions in the instruction caches may be copies
of instructions in the memory 1004 or the storage device
1006 .
[0165 ] The memory 1004 may be used for storing data ,
metadata , and programs for execution by the processor( s).
The memory 1004 may include one or more of volatile and
non - volatile memories , such as Random Access Memory
(“ RAM ” ), Read Only Memory (" ROM ” ) , a solid state disk
(“ SSD " ), Flash , Phase Change Memory (“ PCM " ), or other
types of data storage . The memory 1004 may be internal or
distributed memory .
[0166 ] The storage device 1006 includes storage for stor
ing data or instructions . As an example and not by way of
limitation , storage device 1006 can comprise a non -transi
tory storage medium described above . The storage device
1006 may include a hard disk drive (HDD ), a floppy disk
drive , flash memory , an optical disc , a magneto - optical disc ,
magnetic tape, or a Universal Serial Bus (USB ) drive or a
combination of two or more of these . The storage device
1006 may include removable or non -removable (or fixed )
media, where appropriate . The storage device 1006 may be
internal or external to the computing device 1000 . In one or
more embodiments , the storage device 1006 is non - volatile ,
solid -state memory . In other embodiments , the storage
device 1006 includes read -only memory (ROM ) . Where
appropriate , this ROM may be mask programmed ROM ,
programmable ROM (PROM ), erasable PROM (EPROM ),
electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM ), electrically alter
able ROM (EAROM ), or flash memory or a combination of
two or more of these .
0167 ] The I/ O interface 1008 allows a user to provide
input to , receive output from , and otherwise transfer data to
US 2019/0138174 A1
and receive data from computing device 1000 . The I/O
interface 1008 may include a mouse , a keypad or a key
board , a touch screen , a camera , an optical scanner, network
interface ,modem , other known I/O devices or a combination
of such I/ O interfaces. The I/ O interface 1008 may include
one ormore devices for presenting output to a user, includ
ing , but not limited to , a graphics engine, a display (e .g., a
display screen ), one or more output drivers (e.g ., display
drivers ), one or more audio speakers , and one ormore audio
drivers. In certain embodiments, the I/ O interface 1008 is
configured to provide graphical data to a display for pre
sentation to a user. The graphical data may be representative
of one or more graphical user interfaces and /or any other
graphical content as may serve a particular implementation.
[0168 ] The communication interface 1010 can include
hardware, software , or both . In any event, the communica
tion interface 1010 can provide one or more interfaces for
communication (such as, for example, packet-based com
munication ) between the computing device 1000 and one or
more other computing devices or networks. As an example
and not by way of limitation , the communication interface
1010 may include a network interface controller (NIC ) or
network adapter for communicating with an Ethernet or
other wire -based network or a wireless NIC (WNIC ) or
wireless adapter for communicating with a wireless net-
work , such as a WI-FI.
[ 0169 ] Additionally or alternatively, the communication
interface 1010 may facilitate communications with an ad
hoc network , a personal area network (PAN ), a local area
network (LAN ), a wide area network (WAN ), a metropolitan
area network (MAN ), or one or more portions of the Internet
or a combination of two or more of these . One or more
portions of one or more of these networks may be wired or
wireless . As an example , the communication interface 1010
may facilitate communications with a wireless PAN
(WPAN ) (such as , for example , a BLUETOOTH WPAN ), a
WI- FI network , a WI-MAX network , a cellular telephone
network (such as, for example , a Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM ) network ), or other suitable wireless
network or a combination thereof.
[0170 ] Additionally , the communication interface 1010
may facilitate communications various communication pro
tocols . Examples of communication protocols that may be
used include , but are not limited to , data transmission media ,
communications devices , Transmission Control Protocol
(“ TCP " ), Internet Protocol (" IP " ) , File Transfer Protocol
(“ FTP" ), Telnet, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (" HTTP " ),
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (“ HTTPS ” ), Session
Initiation Protocol (" SIP ” ), Simple Object Access Protocol
(“ SOAP” ), Extensible Mark -up Language (“XML " ) and
variations thereof, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
(“SMTP " ), Real- Time Transport Protocol (“ RTP " ), User
Datagram Protocol ("UDP ” ) , Global System for Mobile
Communications (“GSM ” ) technologies, Code Division
Multiple Access (“ CDMA” ) technologies, Time Division
Multiple Access (“ TDMA” ) technologies, Short Message
Service (“ SMS” ) , Multimedia Message Service (" MMS” ),
radio frequency (“RF” ) signaling technologies, Long Term
Evolution (“LTE ” ) technologies, wireless communication
technologies, in -band and out-of-band signaling technolo
gies, and other suitable communications networks and tech
nologies .
[ 0171] The communication infrastructure 1012 may
include hardware , software , or both that couples components
May 9 , 2019
of the computing device 1000 to each other. As an example
and notby way of limitation , the communication infrastruc
ture 1012 may include an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)
or other graphics bus, an Enhanced Industry Standard Archi
tecture (EISA ) bus , a front -side bus ( FSB ), a HYPER
TRANSPORT (HT) interconnect, an Industry Standard
Architecture ( ISA ) bus, an INFINIBAND interconnect, a
low - pin - count (LPC ) bus, a memory bus, a Micro Channel
Architecture (MCA ) bus , a Peripheral Component Intercon
nect (PCI) bus , a PCI-Express ( PCIe ) bus, a serial advanced
technology attachment (SATA ) bus, a Video Electronics
Standards Association local (VLB ) bus, or another suitable
bus or a combination thereof.
[0172 ] As mentioned above , the electronic communica
tion system 100 can comprise a social networking system
(e.g ., the social networking system 110 as described with
reference to FIG . 1 ). In addition to the description given
above, a social networking system may enable its users
( such as persons or organizations) to interact with the system
and with each other. The social networking system may , with
input from a user , create and store in the social networking
system a user profile associated with the user. The user
profile may include demographic information , communica
tion -channel information , and information on personal inter
ests of the user. The social networking system may also , with
input from a user, create and store a record of relationships
of the user with other users of the social networking system ,
as well as provide services ( e. g., posts , photo - sharing, event
organization, messaging, games , or advertisements ) to
facilitate social interaction between or among users .
[0173] The social networking system may store records of
users and relationships between users in a social graph
comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges
connecting the nodes . The nodes may comprise a plurality of
user nodes and a plurality of concept nodes . A user node of
the social graph may correspond to a user of the social
networking system . A user may be an individual (human
user ), an entity ( e . g ., an enterprise , business, or third party
application ), or a group (e . g ., of individuals or entities ). A
user node corresponding to a user may comprise information
provided by the user and information gathered by various
systems, including the social networking system .
[0174 ] For example, the user may provide his or her name,
profile picture , city of residence , contact information , birth
date , gender, marital status, family status, employment,
educational background , preferences , interests , and other
demographic information to be included in the user node.
Each user node of the social graph may have a correspond
ing web page (typically known as a profile page ). In
response to a request including a user name, the social
networking system can access a user node corresponding to
the user name, and construct a profile page including the
name, a profile picture , and other information associated
with the user. A profile page of a first user may display to a
second user all or a portion of the first user 's information
based on one or more privacy settings by the first user and
the relationship between the first user and the second user.
0175 A concept node may correspond to a concept of the
social networking system . For example, a concept can
represent a real-world entity , such as a movie , a song , a
sports team , a celebrity , a group , a restaurant, or a place or
a location . An administrative user of a concept node corre
sponding to a concept may create or update the concept node
by providing information of the concept (e .g., by filling out
US 2019/0138174 A1
an online form ), causing the social networking system to
associate the information with the concept node . For
example and without limitation , information associated with
a concept can include a name or a title , one or more images
( e. g., an image of cover page of a book ), a web site (e .g ., an
URL address ) or contact information ( e . g ., a phone number,
an email address). Each concept node of the social graph
may correspond to a web page. For example , in response to
a request including a name, the social networking system
can access a concept node corresponding to the name, and
construct a web page including the name and other infor
mation associated with the concept.
[0176 ] An edge between a pair of nodes may represent a
relationship between the pair ofnodes . For example, an edge
between two user nodes can represent a friendship between
two users. For another example, the social networking
system may construct a web page (or a structured document)
of a concept node ( e .g ., a restaurant, a celebrity ), incorpo
rating one or more selectable option or selectable elements
(e. g., “ like ” , “ check in " ) in the web page . A user can access
the page using a web browser hosted by the user 's client
device and select a selectable option or selectable element,
causing the client device to transmit to the social networking
system a request to create an edge between a user node of the
user and a concept node of the concept, indicating a rela
tionship between the user and the concept ( e . g ., the user
checks in a restaurant, or the user “ likes” a celebrity ).
[0177 ] As an example, a user may provide ( or change ) his
or her city of residence , causing the social networking
system to create an edge between a user node corresponding
to the user and a concept node corresponding to the city
declared by the user as his or her city of residence. In
addition , the degree of separation between any two nodes is
defined as the minimum number of hops required to traverse
the social graph from one node to the other. A degree of
separation between two nodes can be considered a measure
ofrelatedness between the users or the concepts represented
by the two nodes in the social graph . For example , two users
having user nodes that are directly connected by an edge
(i. e ., are first -degree nodes) may be described as “ connected
users ” or “ friends." Similarly , two users having user nodes
that are connected only through another user node (i.e ., are
second -degree nodes ) may be described as “ friends of
friends."
[0178 ] A social networking system may support a variety
of applications , such as photo sharing, on -line calendars and
events , gaming, instant messaging, and advertising. For
example , the social networking system may also include
media sharing capabilities . Also , the social networking sys
tem may allow users to post photographs and other multi
media content items to a user's profile page (typically
known as “wall posts” or “ timeline posts” ) or in a photo
album , both of which may be accessible to other users of the
social networking system depending upon the user 's con
figured privacy settings . The social networking system may
also allow users to configure events. For example, a first user
may configure an event with attributes including time and
date of the event, location of the event and other users
invited to the event. The invited users may receive invita
tions to the event and respond ( such as by accepting the
invitation or declining it). Furthermore , the social network -
ing system may allow users to maintain a personal calendar.
Similarly to events , the calendar entries may include times,
dates , locations and identities of other users.
May 9 , 2019
0179 ) FIG . 11 illustrates an example network environ
ment 1100 of a social networking system . Network envi
ronment 1100 includes a client device 1106 , a networking
system 1102 (e .g ., a social networking system and /or an
electronic messaging system ), and a third -party system 1108
connected to each other by a network 1104 . Although FIG .
11 illustrates a particular arrangement of client device 1106 ,
networking system 1102 , third -party system 1108 , and net
work 1104, this disclosure contemplates any suitable
arrangement of client device 1106 , networking system 1102 ,
third -party system 1108 , and network 1104. As an example
and not by way of limitation, two or more of client device
1106 , networking system 1102, and third - party system 1108
may be connected to each other directly , bypassing network
1104 . As another example , two or more of client device
1106 , networking system 1102, and third - party system 1108
may be physically or logically co -located with each other in
whole or in part. Moreover, although FIG . 11 illustrates a
particular number of client devices 1106 , networking sys
tems 1102 , third -party systems 1108 , and networks 1104 ,
this disclosure contemplates any suitable number of client
devices 1106 , networking systems 1102, third -party systems
1108, and networks 1104 . As an example and not by way of
limitation , network environment 1100 may include multiple
client device 1106 , networking systems 1102, third -party
systems 1108, and networks 1104 .
f01801. This disclosure contemplates any suitable network
1104. As an example and not by way of limitation , one or
more portions of network 1104 may include an ad hoc
network , an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network
(VPN ), a local area network (LAN ), a wireless LAN
(WLAN ), a wide area network (WAN ), a wireless WAN
(WWAN ), a metropolitan area network (MAN ) , a portion of
the Internet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone
Network (PSTN ), a cellular telephone network , or a com
bination of two or more of these . Network 1104 may include
one or more networks 1104 .
[0181] Links may connect client device 1106 , networking
system 1102 , and third -party system 1108 to communication
network 1104 or to each other. This disclosure contemplates
any suitable links. In particular embodiments, one or more
links include one or more wireline ( such as for example
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL ) or Data Over Cable Service
Interface Specification (DOCSIS )) , wireless ( such as for
example Wi-Fi or Worldwide Interoperability for Micro
wave Access (WiMAX )), or optical (such as for example
Synchronous Optical Network ( SONET) or Synchronous
Digital Hierarchy (SDH )) links . In particular embodiments ,
one or more links each include an ad hoc network , an
intranet, an extranet, a VPN , a LAN , a WLAN , a WAN , a
WWAN , a MAN , a portion of the Internet, a portion of the
PSTN , a cellular technology -based network , a satellite com
munications technology -based network , another link , or a
combination of two or more such links. Links need not
necessarily be the same throughout network environment
1100. One or more first links may differ in one or more
respects from one or more second links.
[0182] In particular embodiments, client device 1106 may
be an electronic device including hardware , software , or
embedded logic components or a combination of two or
more such components and capable of carrying out the
appropriate functionalities implemented or supported by
client device 1106 . As an example and not by way of
limitation , a client device 1106 may include a computer
US 2019/0138174 A1
system such as an augmented reality display device, a
desktop computer, notebook or laptop computer, netbook , a
tablet computer , e -book reader, GPS device , camera , per
sonal digital assistant (PDA ), handheld electronic device ,
cellular telephone , smartphone, other suitable electronic
device, or any suitable combination thereof. This disclosure
contemplates any suitable client devices 1106 . A client
device 1106 may enable a network user at client device 1106
to access network 1104 . A client device 1106 may enable its
user to communicate with other users at other client devices
1106 .
[ 0183] In particular embodiments , client device 1106 may
include a web browser, such as MICROSOFT INTERNET
EXPLORER , GOOGLE CHROME or MOZILLA FIRE
FOX , and may have one ormore add- ons, plug-ins , or other
extensions, such as TOOLBAR or YAHOO TOOLBAR . A
user at client device 1106 may enter a Uniform Resource
Locator (URL ) or other address directing the web browser to
a particular server (such as server, or a server associated with
a third - party system 1108 ) , and the web browser may
generate a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP ) request and
communicate the HTTP request to server. The server may
accept the HTTP request and communicate to client device
1106 one or more Hyper TextMarkup Language (HTML)
files responsive to the HTTP request. Client device 1106
may render a webpage based on the HTML files from the
server for presentation to the user. This disclosure contem
plates any suitable webpage files . As an example and not by
way of limitation , webpages may render from HTML files,
Extensible Hyper TextMarkup Language (XHTML ) files , or
Extensible Markup Language (XML) files , according to
particular needs. Such pages may also execute scripts such
as , for example and without limitation , those written in
JAVASCRIPT, JAVA , MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT, com
binations of markup language and scripts such as AJAX
(Asynchronous JAVASCRIPT and XML ), and the like .
Herein , reference to a webpage encompasses one or more
corresponding webpage files (which a browser may use to
render the webpage ) and vice versa , where appropriate.
[0184] In particular embodiments, networking system
1102 may be a network - addressable computing system that
can host an online social network . Networking system 1102
may generate, store , receive, and send social networking
data , such as , for example , user -profile data , concept- profile
data , social - graph information , or other suitable data related
to the online social network . Networking system 1102 may
be accessed by the other components of network environ
ment 1100 either directly or via network 1104. In particular
embodiments , networking system 1102 may include one or
more servers . Each server may be a unitary server or a
distributed server spanning multiple computers or multiple
datacenters . Servers may be of various types, such as, for
example and without limitation , web server, news server,
mail server , message server, advertising server, file server,
application server, exchange server, database server, proxy
server , another server suitable for performing functions or
processes described herein , or any combination thereof. In
particular embodiments, each server may include hardware ,
software , or embedded logic components or a combination
of two or more such components for carrying out the
appropriate functionalities implemented or supported by
server. In particular embodiments, networking system 1102
may include one or more data stores . Data stores may be
used to store various types of information . In particular
May 9 , 2019
embodiments , the information stored in data stores may be
organized according to specific data structures . In particular
embodiments , each data store may be a relational, columnar,
correlation , or other suitable database . Although this disclo
sure describes or illustrates particular types of databases, this
disclosure contemplates any suitable types of databases .
Particular embodiments may provide interfaces that enable
a client device 1106 , a networking system 1102 , or a
third - party system 1108 to manage , retrieve , modify , add , or
delete , the information stored in data store.
[0185 ] In particular embodiments , networking system
1102 may store one or more social graphs in one or more
data stores. In particular embodiments , a social graph may
include multiple nodes -which may include multiple user
nodes ( each corresponding to a particular user ) or multiple
concept nodes ( each corresponding to a particular con
cept ) — and multiple edges connecting the nodes. Network
ing system 1102 may provide users of the online social
network the ability to communicate and interact with other
users . In particular embodiments , users may join the online
social network via networking system 1102 and then add
connections (e . g ., relationships ) to a number of other users
of networking system 1102 that they want to be connected
to . Herein , the term “ friend” may refer to any other user of
networking system 1102 with whom a user has formed a
connection , association , or relationship via networking sys
tem 1102 .
[0186 ] In particular embodiments , networking system
1102 may provide users with the ability to take actions on
various types of items or objects , supported by networking
system 1102 . As an example and not by way of limitation ,
the items and objects may include groups or social networks
to which users of networking system 1102 may belong ,
events or calendar entries in which a user might be inter
ested , computer -based applications that a user may use ,
transactions that allow users to buy or sell items via the
service , interactions with advertisements that a user may
perform , or other suitable items or objects . A user may
interactwith anything that is capable of being represented in
networking system 1102 or by an external system of third
party system 1108, which is separate from networking
system 1102 and coupled to networking system 1102 via a
network 1104 .
[0187] In particular embodiments , networking system
1102 may be capable of linking a variety of entities. As an
example and not by way of limitation , networking system
1102 may enable users to interact with each other as well as
receive content from third -party systems 1108 or other
entities , or to allow users to interact with these entities
through an application programming interfaces (API) or
other communication channels.
[0188 ] In particular embodiments , a third -party system
1108 may include one ormore types of servers , one or more
data stores , one or more interfaces , including butnot limited
to APIs, one or more web services , one or more content
sources, one or more networks, or any other suitable com
ponents, e.g., that servers may communicate with . A third
party system 1108 may be operated by a different entity from
an entity operating networking system 1102. In particular
embodiments , however, networking system 1102 and third
party systems 1108 may operate in conjunction with each
other to provide social networking services to users of
networking system 1102 or third - party systems 1108 . In this
sense , networking system 1102 may provide a platform , or
US 2019/0138174 A1
backbone , which other systems, such as third -party systems
1108 , may use to provide social-networking services and
functionality to users across the Internet.
[0189] In particular embodiments , a third-party system
1108 may include a third -party content object provider. A
third - party content object provider may include one or more
sources of content objects , which may be communicated to
a client device 1106 . As an example and not by way of
limitation , content objects may include information regard
ing things or activities of interest to the user, such as, for
example , movie show times , movie reviews, restaurant
reviews, restaurantmenus, product information and reviews,
or other suitable information . As another example and not by
way of limitation , content objects may include incentive
content objects, such as coupons , discount tickets , gift
certificates, or other suitable incentive objects.
[0190 ] In particular embodiments, networking system
1102 also includes user- generated content objects, which
may enhance a user's interactions with networking system
1102 . User- generated content may include anything a user
can add , upload , send, or " post" to networking system 1102 .
As an example and not by way of limitation , a user com
municates posts to networking system 1102 from a client
device 1106 . Posts may include data such as status updates
or other textual data , location information , photos , videos ,
links,music or other similar data or media . Contentmay also
be added to networking system 1102 by a third -party
through a “ communication channel,” such as a newsfeed or
stream .
[0191] In particular embodiments, networking system
1102 may include a variety of servers, sub -systems, pro
grams, modules , logs , and data stores . In particular embodi
ments, networking system 1102 may include one or more of
the following : a web server, action logger, API-request
server , relevance -and - ranking engine , content- object classi
fier, notification controller, action log, third -party - content
object- exposure log , inference module, authorization/pri
vacy server search module , advertisement-targeting
module , user -interface module , user -profile store , connec
tion store, third -party content store , or location store . Net
working system 1102 may also include suitable components
such as network interfaces, security mechanisms, load bal
ancers , failover servers , management- and -network - opera
tions consoles , other suitable components , or any suitable
combination thereof. In particular embodiments , networking
system 1102 may include one or more user- profile stores for
storing user profiles. A user profile may include, for
example , biographic information , demographic information ,
behavioral information , social information , or other types of
descriptive information , such as work experience , educa
tional history , hobbies or preferences, interests , affinities , or
location . Interest information may include interests related
to one or more categories. Categories may be general or
specific . As an example and not by way of limitation , if a
user “ likes” an article about a brand of shoes the category
may be the brand , or the general category of " shoes ” or
" clothing." A connection store may be used for storing
connection information about users . The connection infor
mation may indicate users who have similar or common
work experience , group memberships, hobbies, educational
history , or are in any way related or share common attri
butes . The connection information may also include user
defined connections between different users and content
(both internal and external). A web server may be used for
May 9 , 2019
linking networking system 1102 to one or more client
devices 1106 or one or more third -party system 1108 via
network 1104 . The web server may include a mail server or
other messaging functionality for receiving and routing
messages between networking system 1102 and one or more
client devices 1106 . An API- request server may allow a
third -party system 1108 to access information from network
ing system 1102 by calling one or more APIs . An action
logger may be used to receive communications from a web
server about a user ' s actions on or off networking system
1102 . In conjunction with the action log , a third - party
content-object log may be maintained of user exposures to
third -party -content objects . A notification controller may
provide information regarding content objects to a client
device 1106 . Information may be pushed to a client device
1106 as notifications , or information may be pulled from
client device 1106 responsive to a request received from
client device 1106 . Authorization servers may be used to
enforce one or more privacy settings of the users of net
working system 1102 . A privacy setting of a user determines
how particular information associated with a user can be
shared . The authorization server may allow users to opt in to
or opt out of having their actions logged by networking
system 1102 or shared with other systems ( e. g ., third -party
system 1108), such as , for example , by setting appropriate
privacy settings . Third -party - content- object stores may be
used to store content objects received from third parties,
such as a third -party system 1108 . Location stores may be
used for storing location information received from client
devices 1106 associated with users . Advertisement-pricing
modules may combine social information , the current time,
location information, or other suitable information to pro
vide relevant advertisements , in the form of notifications , to
a user.
[0192 ] FIG . 12 illustrates example social graph 1200 . In
particular embodiments, networking system 1102 may store
one or more social graphs 1200 in one or more data stores .
In particular embodiments , social graph 1200 may include
multiple nodes -which may include multiple user nodes 1202
or multiple concept nodes 1204 — and multiple edges 1206
connecting the nodes . Example social graph 1200 illustrated
in FIG . 12 is shown, for didactic purposes, in a two
dimensional visual map representation . In particular
embodiments, a networking system 1102 , client device
1106 , or third -party system 1108 may access social graph
1200 and related social- graph information for suitable appli
cations. The nodes and edges of social graph 1200 may be
stored as data objects , for example , in a data store ( such as
a social- graph database ). Such a data store may include one
or more searchable or query able indexes of nodes or edges
of social graph 1200 .
[0193] In particular embodiments, a user node 1202 may
correspond to a user of networking system 1102 . As an
example and not by way of limitation, a user may be an
individual ( human user), an entity ( e. g ., an enterprise , busi
ness, or third -party application ), or a group ( e.g ., of indi
viduals or entities ) that interacts or communicates with or
over networking system 1102 . In particular embodiments ,
when a user registers for an account with networking system
1102, networking system 1102 may create a user node 1202
corresponding to the user, and store the user node 1202 in
one or more data stores. Users and user nodes 1202
described herein may , where appropriate , refer to registered
users and user nodes 1202 associated with registered users.
US 2019/0138174 A1
24
In addition or as an alternative, users and user nodes 1202
described herein may, where appropriate , refer to users that
have not registered with networking system 1102 . In par
ticular embodiments , a user node 1202 may be associated
with information provided by a user or information gathered
by various systems, including networking system 1102 . As
an example and not by way of limitation , a usermay provide
his or her name, profile picture , contact information , birth
date , sex , marital status, family status, employment, educa
tion background , preferences , interests , or other demo
graphic information . In particular embodiments , a user node
1202 may be associated with one or more data objects
corresponding to information associated with a user. In
particular embodiments, a user node 1202 may correspond
to one or more webpages.
[ 0194 ] In particular embodiments , a concept node 1204
may correspond to a concept. As an example and not by way
of limitation , a concept may correspond to a place ( such as,
for example , a movie theater, restaurant, landmark , or city );
a website (such as , for example , a website associated with
networking system 1102 or a third -party website associated
with a web - application server ); an entity ( such as , for
example, a person , business, group , sports team , or celeb
rity ); a resource ( such as, for example , an audio file , video
file , digital photo , text file , structured document, or appli
cation ) which may be located within networking system
1102 or on an external server, such as a web -application
server; real or intellectual property ( such as, for example, a
sculpture, painting, movie, game, song , idea , photograph , or
written work ); a game; an activity ; an idea or theory ; another
suitable concept; or two or more such concepts . A concept
node 1204 may be associated with information of a concept
provided by a user or information gathered by various
systems, including networking system 1102 . As an example
and not by way of limitation , information of a concept may
include a nameor a title ; one or more images (e.g., an image
of the cover page of a book ); a location ( e. g ., an address or
a geographical location ); a website (which may be associ
ated with a URL ); contact information ( e .g ., a phone number
or an email address ) ; other suitable concept information ; or
any suitable combination of such information . In particular
embodiments, a concept node 1204 may be associated with
one or more data objects corresponding to information
associated with concept node 1204 . In particular embodi
ments, a concept node 1204 may correspond to one or more
webpages .
[0195 ] In particular embodiments , a node in social graph
1200 may represent or be represented by a webpage (which
may be referred to as a " profile page ” ) . Profile pages may be
hosted by or accessible to networking system 1102 . Profile
pagesmay also be hosted on third -party websites associated
with a third -party system 1108 . As an example and not by
way of limitation , a profile page corresponding to a particu
lar external webpage may be the particular external webpage
and the profile page may correspond to a particular concept
node 1204 . Profile pages may be viewable by all or a
selected subsetofother users .As an example and not by way
of limitation , a user node 1202 may have a corresponding
user-profile page in which the corresponding user may add
content, make declarations, or otherwise express himself or
herself. As another example and not by way of limitation , a
concept node 1204 may have a corresponding concept
profile page in which one or more users may add content,
May 9 , 2019
make declarations, or express themselves, particularly in
relation to the concept corresponding to concept node 1204.
[0196 ] In particular embodiments , a concept node 1204
may represent a third - party webpage or resource hosted by
a third -party system 1108 . The third -party webpage or
resource may include, among other elements, content, a
selectable or other icon , or other inter-actable object (which
may be implemented , for example , in JavaScript, AJAX , or
PHP codes ) representing an action or activity. As an example
and not by way of limitation , a third -party webpage may
include a selectable icon such as “ like," " check in ," " eat,"
" recommend ," or another suitable action or activity . A user
viewing the third - party webpage may perform an action by
selecting one of the icons ( e .g ., " eat” ) , causing a client
device 1106 to send to networking system 1102 a message
indicating the user 's action . In response to the message ,
networking system 1102 may create an edge ( e . g., an “ eat"
edge ) between a user node 1202 corresponding to the user
and a concept node 1204 corresponding to the third -party
webpage or resource and store edge 1206 in one or more
data stores.
[0197 ] In particular embodiments , a pair of nodes in social
graph 1200 may be connected to each other by one or more
edges 1206 . An edge 1206 connecting a pair of nodes may
represent a relationship between the pair of nodes. In par
ticular embodiments, an edge 1206 may include or represent
one or more data objects or attributes corresponding to the
relationship between a pair of nodes . As an example and not
by way of limitation , a first user may indicate that a second
user is a “ friend” of the first user. In response to this
indication , networking system 1102 may send a “ friend
request" to the second user. If the second user confirms the
" friend request,” networking system 1102 may create an
edge 1206 connecting the first user 's user node 1202 to the
second user ' s user node 1202 in social graph 1200 and store
edge 1206 as social- graph information in one ormore of data
stores . In the example of FIG . 12 , social graph 1200 includes
an edge 1206 indicating a friend relation between user nodes
1202 of user “ A ” and user “ B ” and an edge indicating a
friend relation between user nodes 1202 of user “ C ” and user
“ B .” Although this disclosure describes or illustrates par
ticular edges 1206 with particular attributes connecting
particular user nodes 1202 , this disclosure contemplates any
suitable edges 1206 with any suitable attributes connecting
user nodes 1202 . As an example and not by way of limita
tion , an edge 1206 may represent a friendship , family
relationship , business or employment relationship , fan rela
tionship , follower relationship , visitor relationship , sub
scriber relationship , superior/ subordinate relationship ,
reciprocal relationship , non -reciprocal relationship , another
suitable type of relationship , or two or more such relation
ships. Moreover, although this disclosure generally
describes nodes as being connected , this disclosure also
describes users or concepts as being connected . Herein ,
references to users or concepts being connected may , where
appropriate, refer to the nodes corresponding to those users
or concepts being connected in social graph 1200 by one or
more edges 1206 .
10198 ) In particular embodiments , an edge 1206 between
a user node 1202 and a concept node 1204 may represent a
particular action or activity performed by a user associated
with user node 1202 toward a concept associated with a
concept node 1204 . As an example and not by way of
limitation , as illustrated in FIG . 12 , a user may “ like,"
US 2019/0138174 A1
25
" attended," " played ,” " listened ," " cooked," "worked at,” or
" watched ” a concept, each of which may correspond to an
edge type or subtype. A concept-profile page corresponding
to a concept node 1204 may include , for example , a select
able “ check in ” icon (such as, for example , a clickable
“ check in ” icon ) or a selectable “ add to favorites” icon .
Similarly, after a user clicks these icons, networking system
1102 may create a “ favorite ” edge or a “ check in ” edge in
response to a user ' s action corresponding to a respective
action . As another example and not by way of limitation , a
user (user “ C ” ) may listen to a particular song (“ Ramble
On ” ) using a particular application (SPOTIFY , which is an
online music application ). In this case , networking system
1102 may create a “ listened ” edge 1206 and a " used " edge
( as illustrated in FIG . 12 ) between user nodes 1202 corre
sponding to the user and concept nodes 1204 corresponding
to the song and application to indicate that the user listened
to the song and used the application . Moreover, networking
system 1102 may create a " played” edge 1206 ( as illustrated
in FIG . 12 ) between concept nodes 1204 corresponding to
the song and the application to indicate that the particular
song was played by the particular application . In this case ,
" played ” edge 1206 corresponds to an action performed by
an external application (SPOTIFY ) on an external audio file
( the song " Imagine” ). Although this disclosure describes
particular edges 1206 with particular attributes connecting
user nodes 1202 and concept nodes 1204 , this disclosure
contemplates any suitable edges 1206 with any suitable
attributes connecting user nodes 1202 and concept nodes
1204 . Moreover, although this disclosure describes edges
between a user node 1202 and a concept node 1204 repre
senting a single relationship , this disclosure contemplates
edges between a user node 1202 and a concept node 1204
representing one or more relationships. As an example and
notby way of limitation , an edge 1206 may represent both
that a user likes and has used at a particular concept .
Alternatively , another edge 1206 may represent each type of
relationship (ormultiples of a single relationship ) between a
user node 1202 and a concept node 1204 ( as illustrated in
FIG . 12 between user node 1202 for user “ E ” and concept
node 1204 for “ SPOTIFY ” ).
[0199 ] In particular embodiments , networking system
1102 may create an edge 1206 between a user node 1202 and
a concept node 1204 in social graph 1200 . As an example
and not by way of limitation , a user viewing a concept
profile page (such as, for example , by using a web browser
or a special-purpose application hosted by the user 's client
device 1106 ) may indicate that he or she likes the concept
represented by the concept node 1204 by clicking or select
ing a “ Like” icon , which may cause the user 's client device
1106 to send to networking system 1102 a message indicat
ing the user's liking of the concept associated with the
concept- profile page. In response to the message , network
ing system 1102 may create an edge 1206 between user node
1202 associated with the user and concept node 1204 , as
illustrated by “ like” edge 1206 between the user and concept
node 1204 . In particular embodiments , networking system
1102 may store an edge 1206 in one or more data stores . In
particular embodiments , an edge 1206 may be automatically
formed by networking system 1102 in response to a par
ticular user action . As an example and not by way of
limitation , if a first user uploads a picture, watches a movie ,
or listens to a song, an edge 1206 may be formed between
user node 1202 corresponding to the first user and concept
May 9 , 2019
nodes 1204 corresponding to those concepts. Although this
disclosure describes forming particular edges 1206 in par
ticular manners , this disclosure contemplates forming any
suitable edges 1206 in any suitable manner.
[0200 ] In particular embodiments , an advertisement may
be text (which may be HTML - linked ), one or more images
(which may be HTML - linked ) , one or more videos, audio ,
one or more ADOBE FLASH files, a suitable combination
of these , or any other suitable advertisement in any suitable
digital format presented on one or more webpages, in one or
more e -mails, or in connection with search results requested
by a user. In addition or as an alternative , an advertisement
may be one or more sponsored stories ( e . g ., a news- feed or
ticker item on networking system 1102 ) . A sponsored story
may be a social action by a user (such as " liking ” a page ,
" liking " or commenting on a post on a page , RSVPing to an
event associated with a page , voting on a question posted on
a page , checking in to a place, using an application or
playing a game, or “ liking ” or sharing a website that an
advertiser promotes, for example , by having the social
action presented within a pre - determined area of a profile
page of a user or other page , presented with additional
information associated with the advertiser , bumped up or
otherwise highlighted within news feeds or tickers of other
users, or otherwise promoted . The advertiser may pay to
have the social action promoted . As an example and not by
way of limitation , advertisements may be included among
the search results of a search -results page , where sponsored
content is promoted over non -sponsored content .
[0201] In particular embodiments , an advertisementmay
be requested for display within social-networking -system
webpages, third - party webpages , or other pages . An adver
tisement may be displayed in a dedicated portion of a page ,
such as in a banner area at the top of the page , in a column
at the side of the page, in a GUI of the page, in a pop - up
window , in a drop -down menu, in an input field of the page ,
over the top of content of the page ,or elsewhere with respect
to the page . In addition or as an alternative, an advertisement
may be displayed within an application . An advertisement
may be displayed within dedicated pages , requiring the user
to interact with or watch the advertisement before the user
may access a page or utilize an application . The user may,
for example view the advertisement through a web browser.
[0202 ] A user may interact with an advertisement in any
suitable manner. The user may click or otherwise select the
advertisement . By selecting the advertisement , the user may
be directed to (or a browser or other application being used
by the user) a page associated with the advertisement. At the
page associated with the advertisement, the user may take
additional actions, such as purchasing a product or service
associated with the advertisement, receiving information
associated with the advertisement, or subscribing to a news
letter associated with the advertisement. An advertisement
with audio or video may be played by selecting a component
of the advertisement (like a " play button ” ) . Alternatively , by
selecting the advertisement, networking system 1102 may
execute or modify a particular action of the user.
[0203] An advertisement may also include social- net
working -system functionality that a user may interact with .
As an example and not by way of limitation , an advertise
ment may enable a user to " like" or otherwise endorse the
advertisement by selecting an icon or link associated with
endorsement. As another example and not by way of limi
tation , an advertisement may enable a user to search (e .g., by
US 2019/0138174 A1
executing a query ) for content related to the advertiser.
Similarly, a user may share the advertisement with another
user ( e .g ., through networking system 1102 ) or RSVP ( e . g .,
through networking system 1102) to an event associated
with the advertisement. In addition or as an alternative , an
advertisement may include social-networking- system con
text directed to the user. As an example and not by way of
limitation , an advertisement may display information about
a friend of the user within networking system 1102 who has
taken an action associated with the subject matter of the
advertisement.
10204 ] In particular embodiments , networking system
1102 may determine the social- graph affinity (which may be
referred to herein as “ affinity ” ) of various social-graph
entities for each other . Affinity may represent the strength of
a relationship or level of interest between particular objects
associated with the online social network , such as users ,
concepts, content, actions, advertisements , other objects
associated with the online social network , or any suitable
combination thereof. Affinity may also be determined with
respect to objects associated with third -party systems 1108
or other suitable systems. An overall affinity for a social
graph entity for each user, subject matter, or type of content
may be established . The overall affinity may change based
on continued monitoring of the actions or relationships
associated with the social- graph entity . Although this dis
closure describes determining particular affinities in a par
ticular manner, this disclosure contemplates determining
any suitable affinities in any suitable manner.
[ 0205 ] In particular embodiments, networking system
1102 may measure or quantify social- graph affinity using an
affinity coefficient (which may be referred to herein as
" coefficient” ). The coefficientmay represent or quantify the
strength of a relationship between particular objects associ
ated with the online social network . The coefficientmay also
represent a probability or function that measures a predicted
probability that a user will perform a particular action based
on the user ' s interest in the action . In this way , a user 's future
actions may be predicted based on the user' s prior actions ,
where the coefficient may be calculated at least in part based
on the history of the user 's actions. Coefficients may be used
to predict any number of actions, which may be within or
outside of the online social network . As an example and not
by way of limitation , these actions may include various
types of communications, such as sending messages, posting
content, or commenting on content; various types of obser
vation actions, such as accessing or viewing profile pages,
media , or other suitable content; various types of coinci
dence information about two or more social-graph entities,
such as being in the same group , tagged in the same
photograph , checked -in at the same location , or attending
the same event; or other suitable actions. Although this
disclosure describes measuring affinity in a particular man
ner, this disclosure contemplates measuring affinity in any
suitable manner .
[ 0206 ] In particular embodiments , networking system
1102 may use a variety of factors to calculate a coefficient.
These factors may include, for example , user actions, types
of relationships between objects, location information , other
suitable factors , or any combination thereof. In particular
embodiments, different factors may be weighted differently
when calculating the coefficient. The weights for each factor
may be static or the weights may change according to , for
example , the user, the type of relationship , the type of action ,
May 9 , 2019
the user's location , and so forth . Ratings for the factorsmay
be combined according to their weights to determine an
overall coefficient for the user. As an example and not by
way of limitation , particular user actions may be assigned
both a rating and a weight while a relationship associated
with the particular user action is assigned a rating and a
correlating weight (e. g., so the weights total 100 % ). To
calculate the coefficient of a user towards a particular object,
the rating assigned to the user's actions may comprise , for
example , 60 % of the overall coefficient, while the relation
ship between the user and the object may comprise 40 % of
the overall coefficient. In particular embodiments, the net
working system 1102 may consider a variety of variables
when determining weights for various factors used to cal
culate a coefficient, such as, for example, the time since
information was accessed , decay factors, frequency of
access, relationship to information or relationship to the
object about which information was accessed , relationship
to social - graph entities connected to the object, short- or
long-term averages of user actions, user feedback , other
suitable variables , or any combination thereof. As an
example and not by way of limitation , a coefficient may
include a decay factor that causes the strength of the signal
provided by particular actions to decay with time, such that
more recent actions are more relevant when calculating the
coefficient. The ratings and weights may be continuously
updated based on continued tracking of the actions upon
which the coefficient is based . Any type of process or
algorithm may be employed for assigning, combining, aver
aging , and so forth the ratings for each factor and the weights
assigned to the factors. In particular embodiments , network
ing system 1102 may determine coefficients using machine
learning algorithms trained on historical actions and past
user responses, or data farmed from users by exposing them
to various options and measuring responses . Although this
disclosure describes calculating coefficients in a particular
manner, this disclosure contemplates calculating coefficients
in any suitable manner.
[0207 ] In particular embodiments , networking system
1102 may calculate a coefficient based on a user' s actions.
Networking system 1102 may monitor such actions on the
online social network , on a third -party system 1108 , on other
suitable systems, or any combination thereof. Any suitable
type of user actionsmay be tracked or monitored . Typical
user actions include viewing profile pages, creating or
posting content, interacting with content, joining groups ,
listing and confirming attendance at events, checking - in at
locations, liking particular pages, creating pages, and per
forming other tasks that facilitate social action . In particular
embodiments , networking system 1102 may calculate a
coefficient based on the user 's actions with particular types
of content . The content may be associated with the online
social network , a third - party system 1108 , or another suit
able system . The contentmay include users , profile pages,
posts , news stories, headlines , instantmessages , chat room
conversations, emails, advertisements , pictures, video ,
music, other suitable objects , or any combination thereof.
Networking system 1102 may analyze a user' s actions to
determine whether one or more of the actions indicate an
affinity for subject matter, content, other users, and so forth .
As an example and not by way of limitation , if a user may
make frequently posts content related to " coffee” or variants
thereof, networking system 1102 may determine the user has
a high coefficient with respect to the concept " coffee” .
US 2019/0138174 A1
Particular actions or types of actions may be assigned a
higher weight and /or rating than other actions, which may
affect the overall calculated coefficient. As an example and
not by way of limitation , if a first user emails a second user ,
the weight or the rating for the action may be higher than if
the first user simply views the user - profile page for the
second user.
[ 0208 ] In particular embodiments , networking system
1102 may calculate a coefficient based on the type of
relationship between particular objects . Referencing the
social graph 1200 , networking system 1102 may analyze the
number and/ or type of edges 1206 connecting particular user
nodes 1202 and concept nodes 1204 when calculating a
coefficient. As an example and not by way of limitation , user
nodes 1202 that are connected by a spouse -type edge
(representing that the two users are married ) may be
assigned a higher coefficient than a user node 1202 that are
connected by a friend- type edge. In other words , depending
upon the weights assigned to the actions and relationships
for the particular user, the overall affinity may be determined
to be higher for content about the user's spouse than for
content about the user 's friend. In particular embodiments,
the relationships a user has with another object may affect
the weights and/ or the ratings of the user 's actions with
respect to calculating the coefficient for that object. As an
example and not by way of limitation , if a user is tagged in
first photo , but merely likes a second photo , networking
system 1102 may determine that the user has a higher
coefficient with respect to the first photo than the second
photo because having a tagged - in -type relationship with
content may be assigned a higher weight and / or rating than
having a like-type relationship with content. In particular
embodiments , networking system 1102 may calculate a
coefficient for a first user based on the relationship one or
more second users have with a particular object. In other
words, the connections and coefficients other users have
with an objectmay affect the first user 's coefficient for the
object. As an example and not by way of limitation , if a first
user is connected to or has a high coefficient for one or more
second users , and those second users are connected to or
have a high coefficient for a particular object, networking
system 1102 may determine that the first user should also
have a relatively high coefficient for the particular object. In
particular embodiments, the coefficientmay be based on the
degree of separation between particular objects . The lower
coefficient may represent the decreasing likelihood that the
first user will share an interest in content objects of the user
that is indirectly connected to the first user in the social
graph 1200 . As an example and not by way of limitation ,
social- graph entities that are closer in the social graph 1200
(i.e ., fewer degrees of separation ) may have a higher coef
ficient than entities that are further apart in the social graph
1200 .
[ 0209 ] In particular embodiments, networking system
1102 may calculate a coefficient based on location informa
tion . Objects that are geographically closer to each other
may be considered to bemore related , or ofmore interest, to
each other than more distant objects. In particular embodi
ments, the coefficient of a user towards a particular object
may be based on the proximity of the object's location to a
current location associated with the user ( or the location of
a client device 1106 of the user ). A first user may be more
interested in other users or concepts that are closer to the first
user. As an example and not by way of limitation , if a user
May 9 , 2019
is one mile from an airport and two miles from a gas station ,
networking system 1102 may determine that the user has a
higher coefficient for the airport than the gas station based on
the proximity of the airport to the user.
[0210 ] In particular embodiments , networking system
1102 may perform particular actions with respect to a user
based on coefficient information . Coefficients may be used
to predict whether a user will perform a particular action
based on the user 's interest in the action . A coefficient may
be used when generating or presenting any type of objects to
a user, such as advertisements , search results, news stories ,
media ,messages, notifications, or other suitable objects . The
coefficient may also be utilized to rank and order such
objects , as appropriate . In this way, networking system 1102
may provide information that is relevant to user ' s interests
and current circumstances , increasing the likelihood that
they will find such information of interest . In particular
embodiments , networking system 1102 may generate con
tent based on coefficient information . Content objects may
be provided or selected based on coefficients specific to a
user. As an example and not by way of limitation , the
coefficientmay be used to generate media for the user, where
the user may be presented with media for which the user has
a high overall coefficientwith respect to themedia object. As
another example and notby way of limitation , the coefficient
may be used to generate advertisements for the user, where
the user may be presented with advertisements for which the
user has a high overall coefficient with respect to the
advertised object. In particular embodiments, networking
system 1102 may generate search results based on coeffi
cient information . Search results for a particular user may be
scored or ranked based on the coefficient associated with the
search results with respect to the querying user. As an
example and not by way of limitation , search results corre
sponding to objects with higher coefficients may be ranked
higher on a search - results page than results corresponding to
objects having lower coefficients .
[0211 ] In particular embodiments, networking system
1102 may calculate a coefficient in response to a request for
a coefficient from a particular system or process. To predict
the likely actions a user may take (ormay be the subject of)
in a given situation , any process may request a calculated
coefficient for a user. The request may also include a set of
weights to use for various factors used to calculate the
coefficient. This request may come from a process running
on the online social network , from a third -party system 1108
( e. g., via an API or other communication channel), or from
another suitable system . In response to the request, network
ing system 1102 may calculate the coefficient (or access the
coefficient information if it has previously been calculated
and stored ). In particular embodiments, networking system
1102 may measure an affinity with respect to a particular
process . Different processes (both internal and external to
the online social network ) may request a coefficient for a
particular object or set of objects . Networking system 1102
may provide a measure of affinity that is relevant to the
particular process that requested themeasure of affinity. In
this way, each process receives a measure of affinity that is
tailored for the different context in which the process will
use the measure of affinity .
[0212] In connection with social-graph affinity and affinity
coefficients , particular embodiments may utilize one or more
systems, components , elements, functions, methods, opera
tions, or steps disclosed in U .S . patent application Ser. No.
US 2019/0138174 A1
11/ 503, 093 , filed 11 Aug . 2006 , U . S . patent application Ser.
No . 12 / 977 , 027 , filed 22 Dec . 2010 , U .S . patent application
Ser. No. 12 /978,265 , filed 23 Dec . 2010 , and U .S . patent
application Ser. No . 13 /632 ,869, field 1 Oct. 2012 , each of
which is incorporated by reference .
[0213] In particular embodiments, one or more of the
content objects of the online social network may be asso
ciated with a privacy setting . The privacy settings ( or
" access settings ” ) for an object may be stored in any suitable
manner , such as , for example , in association with the object,
in an index on an authorization server, in another suitable
manner , or any combination thereof. A privacy setting of an
objectmay specify how the object (or particular information
associated with an object) can be accessed ( e .g ., viewed or
shared ) using the online social network . Where the privacy
settings for an object allow a particular user to access that
object , the object may be described as being “ visible ” with
respect to that user. As an example and not by way of
limitation, a user of the online social network may specify
privacy settings for a user- profile page identify a set of users
that may access the work experience information on the
user-profile page, thus excluding other users from accessing
the information . In particular embodiments, the privacy
settings may specify a “ blocked list of users that should not
be allowed to access certain information associated with the
object. In other words, the blocked list may specify one or
more users or entities for which an object is not visible . As
an example and not by way of limitation , a user may specify
a set of users thatmay not access photos albums associated
with the user, thus excluding those users from accessing the
photo albums (while also possibly allowing certain users not
within the set of users to access the photo albums). In
particular embodiments, privacy settings may be associated
with particular social-graph elements . Privacy settings of a
social- graph element, such as a node or an edge ,may specify
how the social - graph element, information associated with
the social- graph element, or content objects associated with
the social- graph element can be accessed using the online
social network . As an example and not by way of limitation ,
a particular concept node 1204 corresponding to a particular
photo may have a privacy setting specifying that the photo
may only be accessed by users tagged in the photo and their
friends. In particular embodiments , privacy settings may
allow users to opt in or opt out ofhaving their actions logged
by networking system 1102 or shared with other systems
(e .g., third -party system 1108 ). In particular embodiments,
the privacy settings associated with an object may specify
any suitable granularity of permitted access or denial of
access . As an example and not by way of limitation , access
or denial of access may be specified for particular users ( e . g .,
only me, my roommates, and my boss), users within a
particular degrees -of-separation (e. g., friends, or friends -of
friends ), user groups ( e. g., the gaming club,my family ), user
networks ( e.g ., employees of particular employers, students
or alumni of particular university ), all users (" public" ), no
users ( private ” ), users of third -party systems 1108 , particu
lar applications (e.g., third -party applications, external web
sites ), other suitable users or entities, or any combination
thereof. Although this disclosure describes using particular
privacy settings in a particular manner, this disclosure
contemplates using any suitable privacy settings in any
suitable manner.
[ 0214 ] In particular embodiments , one or more servers
may be authorization /privacy servers for enforcing privacy
May 9 , 2019
settings. In response to a request from a user (or other entity )
for a particular object stored in a data store, networking
system 1102 may send a request to the data store for the
object. The requestmay identify the user associated with the
request and may only be sent to the user (or a client device
1106 of the user ) if the authorization server determines that
the user is authorized to access the object based on the
privacy settings associated with the object. If the requesting
user is not authorized to access the object, the authorization
server may preventthe requested object from being retrieved
from the data store , or may prevent the requested object
from be sent to the user. In the search query context, an
object may only be generated as a search result if the
querying user is authorized to access the object. In other
words, the object must have a visibility that is visible to the
querying user. If the object has a visibility that is not visible
to the user, the object may be excluded from the search
results. Although this disclosure describes enforcing privacy
settings in a particular manner, this disclosure contemplates
enforcing privacy settings in any suitable manner.
[0215 ] The foregoing specification is described with ref
erence to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. Various
embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described
with reference to details discussed herein , and the accom
panying drawings illustrate the various embodiments . The
description above and drawings are illustrative and are not
to be construed as limiting . Numerous specific details are
described to provide a thorough understanding of various
embodiments.
[0216 ] The additional or alternative embodiments may be
embodied in other specific formswithout departing from its
spirit or essential characteristics . The described embodi
ments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative
and not restrictive . The scope of the invention is, therefore ,
indicated by the appended claims rather than by the fore
going description . All changes that comewithin the meaning
and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced
within their scope.
We claim :
1 . A non - transitory computer -readable medium storing
instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one
processor , cause a computer system to :
determine , for a group messaging thread comprising a
plurality of participants, a period of time corresponding
to a participant's absence from a group messaging
thread ;
identify one or more highlight messages from messages
added to the group messaging thread during the deter
mined period of time corresponding to the participant's
absence from the group messaging thread;
in response to the participant accessing the group mes
saging thread after the participant's absence from the
group messaging thread, provide a horizontally scrol
lable display below a last electronic message accessed
by the participantwithin a graphical user interface for
the group messaging thread , the horizontally scrollable
display comprising one or more highlight excerpts
associated with the identified one or more highlight
messages, and
in response to a detected selection of a highlight excerpt
in the horizontally scrollable display, navigate , within
the graphical user interface for the group messaging
thread , to a highlight message associated with the
selected highlight excerpt.
US 2019/0138174 A1
2 . The non - transitory computer-readable medium as
recited in claim 1 , wherein identifying one or more highlight
messages comprises :
calculating a score for each of the plurality of electronic
messages corresponding to the participant's absence
from the group messaging thread ; and
determining electronic messages with a calculated score
higher than a threshold score are highlight messages .
3 . The non -transitory computer -readable medium as
recited in claim 2 , wherein calculating the score for each of
the plurality of electronic messages is based on one or more
of a digital media item in each electronic message , a
hyperlink within each electronic message , a question within
each electronic message , event information within each
electronic message, a mention of the participant within each
electronic message , message activity surrounding each elec
tronic message, or a networking system coefficient between
the participant and a sender of each electronic message .
4 . The non -transitory computer-readable medium as
recited in claim 1 , wherein providing the horizontally scrol
lable display comprising one or more highlight excerpts
associated with the identified one or more highlight mes
sages comprises , for each identified highlight message,
generating a highlight excerpt based on one or more of a
media item from the highlight message , a text from the
highlight message , or a hyperlink from the highlight mes
sage .
5 . The non -transitory computer -readable medium as
recited in claim 4 , wherein generating a highlight excerpt
further comprises :
identifying a group messaging thread identifier associated
with the highlight message ; and
associating the identified group messaging thread identi
fier with the highlight excerpt.
6 . The non -transitory computer-readable medium as
recited in claim 5 , wherein navigating to the highlight
message associated with the selected highlight excerpt com
prises navigating , within the graphical user interface for the
group messaging thread , to the group messaging thread
identifier associated with the selected highlight excerpt.
7 . The non - transitory computer-readable medium as
recited in claim 1, further storing instructions that, when
executed by the at least one processor, cause a computer
system to :
rank the one or more highlight excerpts based on one or
more of the scores associated with the one or more
highlight messages, social networking system informa
tion associated with the participant, or electronic mes
saging system information associated with the partici
pant; and
position the one or more highlight excerpts in the hori
zontally scrollable display based on the ranking .
8 . The non -transitory computer- readable medium as
recited in claim 1, further storing instructions that, when
executed by the at least one processor, cause a computer
system to , in response to navigating to the highlightmessage
associated with the selected highlight excerpt:
remove the selected highlight excerpt from the horizon
tally scrollable display ; and
provide the horizontally scrollable display below the
highlight message corresponding to the selected high
light excerpt within the graphical user interface for the
group messaging thread .
May 9 , 2019
9 . A system comprising :
at least one processor ; and
at least one non -transitory computer-readable storage
medium storing instructions thereon that, when
executed by the at least one processor, cause the system
to :
determine , for a group messaging thread comprising a
plurality ofparticipants , a period of time corresponding
to a participant's absence from a group messaging
thread;
identify one or more highlight messages from messages
added to the group messaging thread during the deter
mined period of time corresponding to the participant's
absence from the group messaging thread ;
in response to the participant accessing the group mes
saging thread after the participant' s absence from the
group messaging thread , provide a horizontally scrol
lable display below a last electronic message accessed
by the participant within a graphical user interface for
the group messaging thread , the horizontally scrollable
display comprising one or more highlight excerpts
associated with the identified one or more highlight
messages ; and
in response to a detected selection of a highlight excerpt
in the horizontally scrollable display, navigate , within
the graphical user interface for the group messaging
thread , to a highlight message associated with the
selected highlight excerpt.
10 . The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein identifying
one or more highlight messages comprises:
calculating a score for each of the plurality of electronic
messages corresponding to the participant's absence
from the group messaging thread ; and
determining electronic messages with a calculated score
higher than a threshold score are highlight messages.
11 . The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein calculating
the score for each of the plurality of electronic messages is
based on one or more of a digital media item in each
electronic message , a hyperlink within each electronic mes
sage, a question within each electronic message, event
information within each electronic message , a mention of
the participant within each electronic message , message
activity surrounding each electronic message , or a network
ing system coefficient between the participant and a sender
of each electronic message.
12 . The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein providing
the horizontally scrollable display comprising one or more
highlight excerpts associated with the identified one ormore
highlight messages comprises, for each identified highlight
message, generating a highlight excerpt based on one or
more of a media item from the highlight message, a text
from the highlight message , or a hyperlink from the high
light message.
13. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein generating
a highlight excerpt further comprises:
identifying a group messaging thread identifier associated
with the highlight message ; and
associating the identified group messaging thread identi
fier with the highlight excerpt.
14 . The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein navigating
to the highlight message associated with the selected high
light excerpt comprises navigating , within the graphical user
interface for the group messaging thread , to the group
messaging thread identifier associated with the selected
highlight excerpt.
US 2019/0138174 A1
30
15 . The system as recited in claim 14 , further comprising
instructions that, when executed by the at least one proces
sor, cause the system to :
rank the one or more highlight excerpts based on one or
more of the scores associated with the one or more
highlight messages, social networking system informa
tion associated with the participant, or electronic mes
saging system information associated with the partici
pant; and
position the one or more highlight excerpts in the hori
zontally scrollable display based on the ranking .
16 . The system as recited in claim 15 , further comprising
instructions that, when executed by the at least one proces
sor, cause the system to :
remove the selected highlight excerpt from the horizon
tally scrollable display ; and
provide the horizontally scrollable display below the
highlightmessage corresponding to the selected high
light excerpt within the graphical user interface for the
group messaging thread .
17 . A method comprising :
determining, for a group messaging thread comprising a
plurality of participants, a period of time corresponding
to a participant's absence from a group messaging
thread ;
identifying one or more highlight messages from mes
sages added to the group messaging thread during the
determined period of time corresponding to the partici
pant's absence from the group messaging thread ;
in response to the participant accessing the group mes
saging thread after the participant's absence from the
group messaging thread, providing a horizontally scrol
lable display below a last electronic message accessed
by the participantwithin a graphical user interface for
the group messaging thread , the horizontally scrollable
display comprising one or more highlight excerpts
associated with the identified one or more highlight
messages ; and
May 9 , 2019
in response to a detected selection of a highlight excerpt
in the horizontally scrollable display, navigating,
within the graphical user interface for the group mes
saging thread , to a highlight message associated with
the selected highlight excerpt.
18 . The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein providing
the horizontally scrollable display comprising one or more
highlight excerpts associated with the identified one or more
highlight messages comprises, for each identified highlight
message, generating a highlight excerpt based on one or
more of a media item from the highlight message , a text
from the highlight message, or a hyperlink from the high
light message, wherein generating a highlight excerpt fur
ther comprises:
identifying a group messaging thread identifier associated
with the highlight message ; and
associating the identified group messaging thread identi
fier with the highlight excerpt.
19 . Themethod as recited in claim 18 , further comprising :
ranking the one or more highlight excerpts based on one
or more of the scores associated with the one or more
highlightmessages, social networking system informa
tion associated with the participant, or electronic mes
saging system information associated with the partici
pant; and
positioning the one or more highlight excerpts in the
horizontally scrollable display based on the ranking.
20. The method as recited in claim 19 , further comprising :
removing the selected highlight excerpt from the horizon
tally scrollable display ; and
providing the horizontally scrollable display below the
highlight message corresponding to the selected high
light excerpt within the graphical user interface for the
group messaging thread.